This listing is for Shape Memory Alloy kind (the magic kind).
It is activated by hot water and can be form-treated into any shape you can think of with a small torch lighter.
People sometimes get the wrong one (the more common "fishing line" type which resists changing its shape (kink-free wire)). This shape memory type can be worked into any shape imaginable, and immediately jumps into its predefined memory shape when heated to 40-80º C (hot water). Unlike the body-temp variants, this alloy is more suitable for robotics, machines, etc as it transitions more predictably above ambient temperatures.
It comes pre-treated straight from the factory, so if you crumple up a chunk and throw it in a cup of hot water, it will jump out as straight as a ruler no matter what you did to it. You will not believe it until you see it.
This listing is for the expanded (new) sample pack
Contents: 1 foot each of 0.5mm 70ºC, 1mm 80ºC, 1mm 40ºC, and 2mm 80ºC nitinol wire + Shorter samples of 1mm 15ºC, 2mm 40ºC and 2mm 60ºC. This will give you a wide selection to experiment with to pick out what works best for your project as each wire exhibits different properties.
The wire has a lustrous titanium color (dark grey) with a bluish oxide tint on its surface. When freshly cut, the inner core is nickel white. Nitinol is very abrasion resistant and has self-healing properties, so the wire is quite hard to cut and kink. It does not require any special handling or protections from oxidation or moisture, and is non-toxic. The only way to damage it is by overheating it, so if you are using electricity instead of hot water to activate it be sure to use a current limiting circuit.
Specifications
- Type: 7x Muscle wires (shape memory alloy)
- Activation: 15º C, 40º C, 60º C, and 80º C transition temps.
- Diameter: 0.5 mm - 1.0 mm - 2.0 mm
- Treatment: annealed
- Length: 4x each of 12 inches (31 cm) and 3x of 4-7 inches uncut per quantity of 1
- Multiple quantities will ship together (not cut)
- Analysis: Ni - 55%; H - 0.001%; O - 0.05%; N - 0.001%; C - 0.05%; Ti - Balance
- Material certificate available upon request
Shipping
- Free shipping in the USA by 1st Class Mail.
- Select Priority Mail for shipping & get it twice as fast for just $3 extra.
- Cheap international shipping by Air Mail, which can be slow and tracking may not work, depending on destination.
- Select Priority Mail International if available to your country for excellent shipping time and reasonable cost.
- Select EMS for fastest and most reliable international delivery.
- We ship worldwide. Customs will be noted as 'metal wire' sample; if you have special requirements just tell us.
Comparison