Comparison of Shape Memory Metals and Polymers

Both, metals and polymers can show the one‐way shape memory effect or rubber‐like elasticity. The origin of these effects in the two types of materials is discussed. It is shown that there is an analogy between the high temperature phases β: crystalline austenite in metals and random coils in polymers. There are differences in the low temperature phases α: a domain structure is typical for metallic martensite, and stretched chains for polymers. Prerequisite for memory and superelastic effects is a complete structural reversibility during a β – α transformation cycle.