Nitinol Memory Wire Spring Kit w/Teachers Guide

The nitinol alloy exhibits two unique, related properties: shape memory, and superelasticity. With its shape memory, nitinol is capable of undergoing deformation at one temperature, and when exposed to a heat supply above its transformation temperature, it will recover is original, undeformed shape. Its superelasticity occurs in a narrow temperature range just above the transformation temperature, wherein it exhibits enormous elastic capacity, in the range of 10-30x that of ordinary metal.

It is an excellent demonstration and teaching tool for both physics and chemistry classes, as it can be used as an educational aid for shape memory, superelasticity, and states of matter. In addition to its educational uses, it is prominently featured in several real-world applications. Because of its high biocompatibility and shape memory, nitinol finds widespread use in the form of stents, helping to support arteries and veins to improve blood flow. It has even found use as a replacement for sutures, and is even being used in orthodontics as the brackets and wires for braces. Other uses include novelty items such as the self-bending spoon, inserts in golf clubs, and in glasses frames and mechanical watch springs.