Memory metal spring

This is a demonstration of a memory metal (Nitinol) spring, an exciting new material. Taken from a Discovery Channel documentary.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Memory metal
• materials
• materials science
• memory
• shape

[malonervozan]

If you make a car out of this metal, then make a bump on your car and just heat that area...fantastic!!!

[radicalphantom1]

excellent. if i have to travel across the globe i can have my car crushed and then stick it in my pocket for safe keeping!

[grimm61111]

@FKeel1 well mantaining the proper heat would then be paramount then wouldnt it.

[FKeel1]

@grimm61111

when heated, the material is actually a lot stronger and harder than in its cool state. however, if you heat it over its "encoding" threshhold and then deform it... then you have a problem.

[Cashmachinez]

@malonervozan Doesnt mean this metal is extremely strong... if anything it would rip apart if u bumped anything with ur car or maybe the car overheating engine will mess up the metal...

[Herman9419]

@grimm61111 Well that depends on the shape memory alloy you use, but if the temperature at which the effect occurs is lower than the engine's temperature and the engine gets deformed it may memorize the new shape. That will mess up your car pretty bad. Besides that the recovery capability of a memory metal is limited, if the applied deformation is too big, it won't return to it's original shape.

[grimm61111]

how easy is it to then change that metals' shape while the heat is applied? say, if a car's outerskin and its engine and parts were all made of it? would it hold together under the heat?