Abstract: The solid-elastocaloric refrigeration effect, characterized by high energy efficiency, large temperature change, and no refrigerant needed, is the preferred candidate of the non gas-liquid compression refrigeration technology, which takes advantage of the alternate absorption and the release of latent heat of solid-solid phase transformation to realize refrigeration. This paper describes the mechanism and test methods of the elastocaloric effect, and summarizes the research progress and problems in the Ti-Ni-based, Cu-based, Fe-based, and Heusler-type shape memory alloy as elastocaloric material. Moreover, it anticipates the research directions of the elastocaloric refrigeration materials based on the shape memory alloy, so as to enhance the application of the solid-elastocaloric refrigeration technology.

Key words: solid-elastocaloric effect; shape memory alloy; martensitic transformation