4F30.60 - Nitinol Wire - Memory Wire

See paragraph one in the procedure section.
See paragraph three in the procedure section.
Code Number:
4F30.60
Demo Title:
Nitinol Wire - Memory Wire
Condition:
Excellent
Principle:
Crystal Formation - Crystal States
Area of Study:
Heat & Fluids

Disclaimer

Equipment:
Thermobile, Memory wire with green bead ends, 'ICE' memory wire.
Procedure:

All of these wire will work if dipped in water that has been heated to about 160 degrees F. or 75 degrees C. Lower the brass wheel of the thermobile into the heated water and the wire will try to straighten out which makes the thermobile turn. Bend the green beaded wire to any shape you want and then dip it into the hot water and watch it straighten out. Bend the 'ICE' wire to a different shape and when it is dipped into the hot water it will regain its 'ICE' shape.

The nitinol wire windmill also works by immersing the lower pulley into hot water. 

References:
  • William Kopp, Arthur Schmidt, Ed McNeil, "The Icemobile", TPT, Vol. 23, # 6, Sept. 1985, p. 375 - 376.
  • H. Richard Crane, "More on the Thermobile: Power from Wire that Remembers", TPT, Vol. 23, # 4, Apr. 1985, p. 238.
  • Ed McNeil, Norbert Zarumba, "A Mystery Heat (?) Engine", TPT, Vol. 22, # 6, Sept. 1984, p. 400 -  401.
  • A. D. Johnson and J. L. McNichols, Jr., "Comments on 'Demonstration Solid State Engine' [Am. J. Phys. 52, 1144 (1984)]", AJP, Vol. 54, #8, Aug. 1986, p. 745.
  • R. D. Spence and Michael J. Harrison, "Demonstration Solid State Engine", AJP, Vol. 52, #12, Dec. 1984, p. 1144.
  • Jearl Walker,  "Wire That "Remembers" Its Shape Is Put to Work Running an Engine",  The Amateur Scientist, May, 1986.


Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist.  The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose.  The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources.  Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks.  These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage.  Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.