What is memory metal?

Answer 1

Nitinol, a nickel titanium alloy.

The name stands for Nickel Titanium-Naval Ordnance Laboratory. Developed in 1959 as a more heat and impact resistant material for ICBM nosecones, it was discovered to exhibit the shape memory effect by accident laboratory management meeting in 1961. But practical use of nitinol's shape memory did not happen until the 1990s due to difficulties in processing.

The shape memory effect in general dates back to 1932, when Swedish chemist Arne Ölander first observed it in gold cadmium alloys. The shape memory effect was also observed in brass in the early 1950s.

Answer 2

Memory metal, also known as shape memory alloy, is a type of metal that can “remember” its shape and return to its original form after being deformed. This unique property is due to the metal’s ability to undergo a reversible phase transformation when exposed to certain temperature changes. Memory metals are commonly used in various applications such as biomedical devices, aerospace engineering, and eyeglass frames.