Researchers create metal with a memory

Builders and engineers must often choose between materials that are strong and those that are flexible—rarely will they find a substance with both properties in abundance. Researchers are trying to change this through the development of "shape metal" alloys that are strong enough to resist high levels of strain while also being flexible enough to recover their original shape when a certain amount of heat is applied.

Yuuki Tanaka and other researchers at Japan's Tohoku University report in Friday's issue of Science having discovered an iron-based shape metal alloy that shows an almost full recovery of shape change even when subjected to nearly twice the strain levels endured by shape metal alloys currently used in some cellular antennas, eyeglass frames and medical devices. The researchers report their alloy's strength is comparable with that of high-strength industry alloys.