More than one will think that all the materials with which something can be built have already been studied and researched. But nothing is further from the truth, since from time to time we find new developments that could be key in some of the most everyday objects tomorrow. The clearest example is Nitinol, a new metallic material that stands out for not losing its shape.
Technology opens the doors to having new elements to work with in many fields. We have seen the clearest example with 3D printing, which has been a before and after for all artists and designers who want to bring their own works to life and exhibit them. But in the case of Nitinol it is different and today we are going to tell you what this new material is for.
What is Nitinol
Let’s start with the most basic and that is by making a brief description of what this new material is. The truth is that by taking a look at the name we can find the two names of the components of this material. On the one hand, we have Nickel, which is an element used especially to manufacture batteries and accelerate chemical reactions in this type of processes.
On the other hand, we have Titanium. This is a metal known to everyone because it is used in the manufacture of some devices and tools to meet three conditions: low density, its hardness and resistance to corrosion caused by sea water and chlorine.
With all this in mind, we would already have some of the capabilities of the famous Nitinol, which is a new metal that stands out for not losing its shape. It was born in a Kickstarter project and can become a very important element for the construction of objects that need to maintain their tubular shape.
We say this because it is a material with ‘memory’, that is, it maintains its shape even if you try to modify it by force. Only with exposure to high temperatures can it be modified and, if that were not enough, it withstands even acid for long periods of time.
Possible applications
Nitinol is a great value proposition for many everyday products and others that can save lives. But we go in parts. If we look at this first improvement, it can be used in all those products where a long-lasting spring is required. Thanks to its memory it is able to continue with a form for a long time.
One of its most interesting applications may be in the manufacture of tubeless wheels. A Nitinol spring would be able to create that cylindrical shape so that a bicycle can move. What’s more, by lacking an air chamber and maintaining the same shape, punctures would no longer be a problem.
But there is another field where it is much more interesting: health. And we are talking about a material that is composed of titanium, an element that some prostheses are made of to prevent rejection by the body and add resistance. But its use is more focused on the cardiac field, like a stent with which the arteries do not close, not to mention that it is a non-magnetic element that makes things much easier for whoever wears it.
