Nitinol paper clip returns to form after bending - GIF

[PJs]

I'm forced to wonder what would happen if you cut a piece of nitinol wire in two and then put the cut ends in close proximity in some hot water.

Fascinating stuff and provides endless inspiration for time-wasting gedanken experiments like is a nitinol Stirling engine possible?

A Lab Tech (Ridgway Banks) from Livermore Lab came up with several patents on NiTiNol engines. I know, the whole free energy thing, but the engines are interesting designs. The video at the bottom of the page shows his first proto and some of the things the found about the longevity and strengthening properties over time. Worth the watch imho...even though its from 1982.

I've been thinking about some uses around its conductivity properties after visiting my sons work place a few weeks ago and seeing some of the biomedical applications he's working on. Tiny Tiny stuff like a ball valve about ø.7mm x ~5mm long and NitiNol coils about 2-3mmOD.

Definitely cool metallurgy and physics and a great rabbit hole for those inclined.