The flower is just one of six nitinol samples that you receive. This exotic metal has so much potential for inventors, and this kit will help you explore these possibilities.

Tucked behind this frame you’ll find five more samples of nitinol. Scan the QR code and you’ll see a video demonstration of each, the complete data sheet, and manufacturer contact details.

A cast acrylic display, 5½" × 5½" × 1½", holding six nitinol specimens:

1. The hot-water wire. This is the most basic form of nitinol. This wire feels like a regular piece of metal; bend it into an arbitrary shape and it stays—boring. But then heat the wire to 140°F (60°C) by dipping it into hot water or using a hair dryer, and the wire instantly straightens. It exerts considerable force! You can even run electricity through it to heat it.

2. The cold wire. This second nitinol sample has been created with a transition temperature of 65°F (18°C). Pick it up and try to bend it, and because it transitions below room temperature, it always bounces back. But then place it in the freezer or dip it in ice water, and now it behaves like the first one: bend it with pliers and it stays bent. Bring it back to room temperature and it will straighten.

3. The trained spring. A plain nitinol wire that was taught the shape of a spring. Stretch it out and it stays, then warm it up, and it pulls itself back into a tight coil. It’s great for lifting a weight.

4. The trained paper clip. A plain nitinol wire that was taught the shape of a paper clip. Unfold it, then warm it up, and it pops back into a paper clip.

5. One meter of wire you can train to any shape you want! You can cut this and train a few shapes of your own in any shape. You can start simple with a star or heart shape. But then get more creative: how about you train a butterfly, then straighten the wire and wrap it around your finger to form it into a cocoon. Now place the cocoon in hot water and watch it transform into a butterfly!

6. The two-way flower. Every other sample is one-way nitinol: warm it and it returns to its remembered shape, but cooling it doesn’t change anything; it just lets you bend it again. But with special techniques, nitinol can be trained to have a second shape that it transforms into when it’s cooled. This flower is an elegant demonstration.

You also receive step-by-step instructions for how to train your own wire, specs on all the material samples, and contact details for the manufacturer that created our nitinol product when you're ready to bring your own product to market.