Shape memory alloys developed for space helping the medical, aviation and automotive industry

Shape memory alloys are extraordinary materials that change shape depending on the temperature. These frequent space flyers are making orbital research much more efficient, and are widely used in the automotive and aviation industry. The European space programme developed spring-memory alloys for use as lightweight, temperature-controlled switches. When heated with electricity, actuators remember their original shape and can be made to behave like springs. The result was a drastic reduction of failures, standardisation of electronics, increase of fluid volume and reusable biology experiments. The unique features of shape memory alloys are already being used in medicine on Earth. Staples made of these alloys can help repair broken bones. Body heat causes the staples to close, thus drawing the bones together. In the same way, orthodontists can rely on them to control the movement of teeth. This technology shows great promise in other fields such as mining and quarrying where the alloys can be used to crack rocks as they expand.