Elastocaloric Effect

Elastocaloric materials are solids capable of stress-induced reversible phase transformations during which latent heat is released or absorbed. The elastocaloric effect occurs when stress is applied or removed, and a phase transformation is induced. As a result of the entropy difference between the two co-existing phases, the material heats up or cools down. A good elastocaloric material must exhibit a large latent heat, a large adiabatic temperature change, good thermal conductivity, long fatigue life, and low cost. Shape memory polymers can also exhibit elastocaloric effect.

Elastocaloric Materials

Alloys
Ceramics
Salts
Polymers

Advantages of Elastocaloric Refrigeration

More efficient than vapor-compression refrigeration
No gases or volatile liquids involved
Non-hazardous
Re-usable and recyclable parts and components

Capabilities

Type	Description	Organization
Combinatorial Thin Film Synthesis	Synthesis of polycrystalline and epitaxial metal alloys thin films is a core area of expertise in the Takeuchi Lab at the University of Maryland (UMD).	University of Maryland
Detailed Field Analysis	Finite element analysis is a core area of expertise at Ames Laboratory which supports rapid development of regenerators for caloric devices.	Ames Laboratory
Elastocaloric Cooling System	Evaluation of material performance in a real elastocaloric system is a core area of expertise at the University of Maryland (UMD).	University of Maryland
Heat Capacity Measurement	High-precision calorimetry is a core area of expertise in Ames that is essential for discovery of new caloric materials.	Ames Laboratory
Materials Synthesis	Synthesis of poly-, nano-, and single-crystalline metal alloys and composites is a major area of expertise at Ames.	Ames Laboratory
Mechanical Properties of Elastocaloric Materials	Assessment of mechanical properties and superelastic behavior is a major expertise at the University of Maryland (UMD).	University of Maryland
Physical Properties of Elastocaloric Materials	Composition, thickness & resistance are sample’s parameters critical for the discovery of new elastocaloric materials.	University of Maryland
Rapid Experimental Alloy Development (TD-READ)	Utilizes high throughput arc melting system to prepare a large amount of bulk alloy samples.	Ames Laboratory
Structural Characterization & Phase Analysis	X-ray diffraction is a core area of expertise at Ames Laboratory which supports rapid discovery of caloric materials.	Ames Laboratory
TD-READ Computation	Utilizes a density functional theory (DFT) based Green’s function electronic-structure method.	Ames Laboratory
Thermal Analysis	Netzsch DIL 402C dilatometer; Netzsch DSC 404 C: from -150 ºC to 700 ºC; and from 25 ºC to 1650 ºC; Perkin-Elmer Thermal Analysis System 7; DTA, DSC, TGA, and TMA measurements.	Ames Laboratory

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Elastocaloric Effect

Elastocaloric Materials

Advantages of Elastocaloric Refrigeration

Capabilities