Knowledge Base

Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) are a unique class of smart materials capable of returning to a pre-defined shape when exposed to a specific thermal or mechanical stimulus. Unlike conventional metals, SMAs exhibit shape memory effect and superelasticity, enabling them to respond dynamically to their environment. Among them, Nitinol (nickel–titanium alloy) is the most widely used, but copper-based and iron-based SMAs also play important roles in engineering. Thanks to their ability to combine sensing, actuation, and structural functions into a single material, SMAs are now widely used across medical, industrial, aerospace, robotics, and consumer applications.

Every year on February 11, the world marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science—a moment to celebrate achievement, reflect on progress, and, just as importantly, acknowledge how much more there is to do. It is a day that invites us to look beyond statistics and remember the stories: the curiosity sparked in childhood, the persistence in the face of closed doors, and the quiet determination that led to discoveries changing how we understand the world.

This technical article reviews how doping advances Lithium Niobate (LN) and YAG crystals, and how SOI platforms enable integrated photonics. Explore applications in lasers and modulators. By Stanford Advanced Materials (SAM), a supplier of these high-purity materials.

In cancer therapy, bioceramics are generally classified based on how they interact with tumors, tissues, and therapeutic agents. Each category plays a distinct role, from passive structural support to active tumor destruction and drug delivery.

In practical photonic systems, only a limited number of crystal materials combine optical excellence with mechanical robustness, manufacturability, and long-term stability. The following crystal families are among the most important in advanced photonics.

The recently concluded SPIE Photonics West Conference 2026 once again brought global attention to the world's leading event in lasers, biomedical optics, optoelectronics, and biophotonics. With its rich technical program, world-class plenary speakers, advanced training courses, and industry forums, the conference highlighted how rapidly photonics is evolving. Among the many themes that stood out, one topic kept returning to center stage: nonlinear optics and its transformative impact on modern laser technologies.

In laboratory and industrial settings, crucibles are essential tools for high-temperature processes such as melting, calcining, and sintering. These crucibles must be able to withstand extreme temperatures, resist corrosion, and maintain structural integrity under stress. We will discuss the most commonly used materials for high-temperature crucibles, their properties, and the industries that rely on them.

Explore 6 potent functional botanical extracts, including Ashwagandha and Tongkat Ali. Backed by modern science & ancient tradition, they target stress, energy, and cognition. Discover how Stanford Advanced Materials (SAM) provides these premium ingredients for your next breakthrough product.

It's perhaps most familiar as the main ingredient in limestone, marble, coral skeletons, and pearls. It's been extensively used in industry for applications such as a filler material in paints for its opacity and binding properties and as a filler and white pigment in paper products. Much less familiar—is quickly gaining in significance in high-end research and applications engineering—is single-crystal or oriented-crystal calcium carbonate.