MAGNETIC SHAPE-MEMORY FOAM COULD HELP CARMAKERS DEVELOP SMALLER, LIGHTER AUTOS
January 1st, 2008
BY MONICA DOBIE
RESEARCHERS from the Boise State University in Idaho and Northwestern University in Illinois, have developed a new material called "magnetic shape-memory foam" whose strength and lightweight properties could be used to help automobile makers develop lighter vehicles with a smaller price tag.
The foam is made of a nickel-manganese-gallium alloy that is designed to be porous making the alloy resilient and lightweight. The alloy can remember its shape after it has been put under strain.
Because the foam changes shape when exposed to a ...
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