# Magnetic Shape Memory Alloys

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-shape-memory-alloys/450861>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 28, 2008, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-shape-memory-alloys/450861 "2008-05-28T11:18:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Chew\_Barker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@Chew\_Barker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chew_Barker)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-shape-memory-alloys/450861/1 "2008-05-28T11:18:30Z")

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At work today we feel we might have hit a brick wall. We want to develop a product using Magnetic shape memory alloys.  
The problem is, it seems that the ferromagnetic shape memory alloys only contract (in length) when a magnetic field is applied.  
We would like to train the alloy (a bit like those spectacles that pop back into shape even when you sit on them), the trained shape could be deformed then with the application of a magnetic field would return to the trained shape.  
Can we do this ?

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**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetic-shape-memory-alloys/450861/2 "2008-05-28T11:35:38Z")

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I’d be happy to consult for you.