Mechanical clamper using shape memory ceramics

The shape memory effect was observed in the composition of Pb/sub 0.99/Nb/sub 0.02/((Zr/sub 0.6/Sn/sub 0.4/)/sub 0.9365/Ti/sub 0.0635/)/sub 0.98/O/sub 3/. This effect was due to the phase transition from an antiferroelectric to a ferroelectric phase. To obtain the original antiferroelectric state, a small reverse bias electric field should be applied to the ceramic. A mechanical clamper was trial fabricated as an application of shape memory ceramics. A multilayer shape memory actuator was fabricated by stacking 10 rectangular plates and installed in a hinge level magnification mechanism. The magnification was about seven times.<<ETX>>