Nitinol is a metal that will snap back into the shape it was forged in if warmed after being messed with. I am kind of lost as to how this is possible, in particular what it even means for nitinol to remember it's shape.
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$\begingroup$ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_titanium#Mechanism $\endgroup$– GertCommented Dec 4, 2017 at 0:01
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the classic ( & simplified) answer is that the interatomic bonds which existed when nitinol was originally formed are not broken when it is later bent- they are stressed. heating the sample allows for slippage within the crystal structure of the material and furnishes the opportunity for the original bonds to relax- and pull the material back into its original shape.
answered Dec 4, 2017 at 4:45