Decoding the metal magic 'transformation' is very popular with science

No matter how distorted it is, the metal will magically return to its original shape in the proper temperature environment.

Before starting, let's take a look at the picture below.

Surely you will think this picture is a technique, because the piece of metal is "twisting" suddenly becomes a paper clip? But it is not so, but merely a characteristic of a metal compound called Nitinol.

What is nitinol?

Nitinol is one of the most common shape memory alloys (SMA). SMA was first discovered accidentally in 1961 by William J. Buehler, an American researcher.

The type of SMA alloy then came from a combination of Nickel and Titanium, but was discovered at the Buehler laboratory working as the Naval Ordnance Laboratory (NOL) so it was named Nitinol.

Why can Nitinol "remember" the original shape before being deformed?

Dr. Frederick E. Wang, an expert in crystal physics, was the first to point out that the changes in the atomic-level structure have helped Nitinol in particular and SMA in general can "record Remember "shape.

In another way, Nitinol can memorize the shape according to the law of transition between phases, in which each phase is a change in the way the structure of the atom is arranged.

In the case of Nitinol, for example, the cooled alloy will turn to a cold-martensitic phase, if heated again it will return to a hot phase - austenitic.

If Nitinol was initially heated - converted to austenitic phase - and shaped, it would be a memory step. When cooling - martensitic phase - no matter how you bend, tangle it, when it is heated, it still returns to its original shape.

That is the principle of shape memory effect on metal today is very widely applied.

Characteristics and application of Nitinol

Before Nitinol became popular, there were many magicians using this material as props for their performances. One of the most popular magic tricks in the past with the participation of Nitinol is "bending the spoon in the water" (of course, hot water).

In production, Nitinol has very good electrical and mechanical processing properties. Besides, thanks to the protective titanium oxide surface, Nitinol has a very long durability and high corrosion resistance.

Moreover, Nitinol is also a tough alloy. Even in the process of returning to its original shape if it encounters resistance, this material will create a force large enough to overcome that resistance.

With such hegemonic abilities, Nitinol becomes an excellent material when applied as medical tools such as orthodontics, creating filters, stents, bone anchors . This material is expected. Can replace stainless steel in this area.

With these applications, Nitinol not only serves in the field of entertainment but also an extremely useful production material in everyday life. And for science, Nitinol's application is also considered to be boundless.