Shape Memory Alloys vs Piezoelectrics vs Electroactive Polymers vs Magnetocalorics
Smart Materials Comparison
Comparison of 4 smart material classes — stimulus, response, efficiency, applications, and maturity.
SMA (Nitinol)PiezoelectricEAPMagnetocaloric
Full Specification Comparison
| Specification | SMA (Nitinol) | Piezoelectric | EAP | Magnetocaloric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stimulus | Heat | Electric field | Electric field | Magnetic field |
| Response | Shape change | Deformation / voltage | Bending / stretching | Temperature change |
| Strain | 8% | 0.1% | 100%+ | N/A |
| Efficiency | ~4% | 30-50% | 30-40% | 60%+ (Carnot) |
| Response Time | Seconds | Microseconds | Seconds | Seconds |
| Market Size | $15B | $30B | $1B | $0.1B |
| Key Application | Medical stents, actuators | Sensors, energy harvesting | Artificial muscles | Magnetic refrigeration |
Expert Verdict
SMAs offer the highest work density for actuation; piezoelectrics are the most mature with $30B market; EAPs enable artificial muscles; magnetocalorics promise efficient refrigeration without refrigerants.
Subject Breakdown
SMA (Nitinol)
0 Category Wins
Piezoelectric
2 Category Wins
- ★ Response Time: Microseconds
- ★ Market Size: $30B
EAP
1 Category Wins
- ★ Strain: 100%+
Magnetocaloric
1 Category Wins
- ★ Efficiency: 60%+ (Carnot)