Abstract: A conductive composite wire includes at least one external jacket made of copper, a first tube including a first metallic material (M1) contacting and located inside the copper jacket; a second tube including a second metallic material (M2) contacting and located inside the first tube; and a fiber including a third metallic material (M3) contacting and located inside the second tube. The copper and the first metallic material are immiscible with each other, the first and second metallic materials are immiscible with each other, and the second and third metallic materials are immiscible with each other. A copper-based coaxial microstructure includes a copper sheath containing an array of nanotubes and nanofibers according to a process for manufacturing the microstructure.

Abstract: A conductive composite wire includes at least one external jacket made of copper, a first tube including a first metallic material (M1) contacting and located inside the copper jacket; a second tube including a second metallic material (M2) contacting and located inside the first tube; and a fiber including a third metallic material (M3) contacting and located inside the second tube. The copper and the first metallic material are immiscible with each other, the first and second metallic materials are immiscible with each other, and the second and third metallic materials are immiscible with each other. A copper-based coaxial microstructure includes a copper sheath containing an array of nanotubes and nanofibers according to a process for manufacturing the microstructure.

Abstract: A zirconium alloy, comprising erbium as a burnable neutron poison, said alloy comprising, by weight: from 3 to 12% erbium; from 0.005 to 5% additional elements such as additives and/or manufacturing impurities; the remainder zirconium. A structural component comprising such a zirconium alloy. Processes for manufacturing and shaping the zirconium alloy by a powder metallurgy or a melting process.

Abstract: This connector comprises a at least one shape memory means, comprising a first sleeve (14) made of a shape memory material and a second sleeve (16) made of an elastic material. The sleeves are coaxial and capable of applying radial forces on each other to fix or to release the ends (6, 8) of the fibers. The difference Sm1×Mm1?Sm2×Mm2, where Sm1 and Sm2 represent the cross sections of the sleeves and Mm1 and Mm2 represent their corresponding moduli of elasticity, is negative, when the first sleeve is in its martensitic phase, and positive when this first sleeve is in its austenitic phase.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for manufacturing, shaping, and machining of a part made of a shape memory alloy, comprising a single step in which the said part is fabricated, shaped and machined simultaneously in a single operation by a cutting machining process such as turning. The invention is also related to the part prepared by this process, which is particularly a helical spring with adjacent turns. In particular, this part may be used in actuator or actuator/sensor type devices.