Mini Lesson 5: What is a Shape Memory Alloy?

Let’s start by defining what we mean by a “shape memory alloy.” An alloy is a metal containing two or more elements. Thermal shape memory is the ability of a material to return to its original shape when heated.
The piece of wire in this demo is called Nitinol and is an alloy made of nickel and titanium which has two phases or states, a high temperature state and a low temperature state.
What happens when a coiled up piece of Nitinol wire meets hot water? Why are these materials important for the medical community? Watch the demo video to find out!
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