Memory Metal Wire, ICE-Shaped

Some metal alloys have shape-memory retention—that is, they can be bent and will return to their original shape when the temperature is raised. Pull the ends of the pre-shaped wire to distort it, then watch as it returns to the ICE shape when put into warm water.

This ICE-shaped memory metal is also available as part of the Memory Metal Kit. The Memory Metal Kit includes an eight-page description of the chemistry responsible for shape-memory retention, many diagrams (ready for overhead projection), and a sample of ­memory metal wire (Nitinol™) in the shape of ICE.

Additional items related to memory metal are available from ICE:

• Memory Metal Kit contains one ICE-shaped Nitinol™ wire, and a manual that explains how memory metal works
• Memory Metal, set of 10 3" treated pieces contains metal pieces with a set memory that work well for hands-on demos
• Memory Metal, Untreated is available as cut-to-size lengths of untreated Nitinol™ wire to design your own pieces