Chill out: freezing temperatures produced by letting a stressed alloy relax
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: A device has been built that relies on a solid-state phenomenon called the elastocaloric effect to produce cooling to temperatures below 0 °C, lower than existing room-temperature elastocaloric cooling systems are able to achieve. The innovation demonstrates that elastocaloric technology could offer an alternative to conventional freezing systems that use volatile greenhouse gases. Tubes of a modified nickel titanium alloy undergo compression–release cycles to reach a steady low of −12 °C.
Source: Nature
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $12,690
OpenAlex ID: W7125965890