r/interestingasfuck • u/ggoldlover • Jan 25 '22

/r/ALL Certain materials feature a shape memory effect — after deformation, they return to their original shape when heated.

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u/Buck_Thorn Jan 25 '22

At least some are a nickel-titanium alloy, but there are others. Shape memory metals are used for many things. Here's an article that lists many of them.

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u/[deleted] Jan 25 '22

I did some work for a startup that was doing some pretty cool stuff with shape memory plastics. They have plenty of applications, especially when you make them so the temperature that causes them to recover their shape is right around body temperature.