Super-elastic alloy is first known metal to get springier as it heats up City University of Hong Kong researchers have a…

Super-elastic alloy is first known metal to get springier as it heats up

City University of Hong Kong researchers have accidentally discovered a first-of-its-kind alloy that retains its stiffness instead of softening as the temperature rises. Indeed, high-entropy Elinvar appears to get stiffer and springier as temperatures approach 1,000 K (727°C, 1,341 °F). No other known metals have been found to behave this way.

In addition to the Elinvar effect, this metal also displays an elastic limit of about 2 percent at room temperature. You can see the extraordinary spring-back power of this high-entropy Elinvar alloy demonstrated in a room-temperature ball bearing drop test in the video.