There is no colder place than deep space, where temperatures descend to several tens of degrees under zero. Under these extreme conditions, Even the most advanced materials are starting to fail … Until today, where a new advance upsets the rules of the game.
Japanese researchers have developed a metal alloy capable of operating even at -200 ° C. Unlike the others, it retains its ability to regain its original form after being distorted: in other words, it has a memory, even when everything else freezes.
The secret lies in its composition, a mixture of copper, aluminum and manganese. This atomic trio allows the material to undergo a reversible structural change, which allows it to “remember” its initial shape after having been folded or compressed, without recourse to motors, sensors or electronic.
The idea is not new – we already knew the memory metals – But most cease to operate below -20 ° C. This alloy retains its properties at ten times lower temperatures, a first in materials science.
The most impressive, This is that this material does not only resist the cold: during tests carried out at 75 k (around -198 ° C), it released more energy than other active systems. This power makes it an ideal candidate for designing actuators, thermal switches or mechanisms capable of operating in the cold silence of space.
A promise for the era of spatial exploration
When you plan to explore the moon, Mars or the distant satellites of Jupiter, A challenge always comes back: extreme cold. A blocked mechanism can compromise a whole mission. With this new alloy, there is part of the solution.
The researchers built an entirely mechanical thermal switch from this material. The device has automatically activated at a given temperature And has managed to open or close a thermal flow channel without external assistance, all at nearly -170 ° C.
This ability makes it an ideal material to control embedded systems on space probes or infrared telescopes, which must remain cold while regulating their temperature without consuming too much energy. A passive and reliable system could thus prolong the duration of the missions and reduce the costs.
It could also be used on low orbit satellites, where the constant alternation between shadow and light causes extreme thermal cycles. A device capable of automatically adapting to these variations would represent a precious resource to guarantee the proper functioning of sensitive instruments.
Hydrogen and clean energies
Beyond space, This alloy could play a key role in the energy transition. Liquid dihydrogen is today considered a fuel for the future, but its storage and transport require cryogenic temperatures – an area where this “new” intelligent metal could intervene.
An actuator operating without electricity, activated only by room temperature, could serve as a safety valve in cryogenic tanks. If the system became too hot, it would open automatically, without sensors or human intervention.
The actuators produce physical movements with force by converting physical, chemical, electric or magnetic energy. They are used in many areas as a mechanism for controlling devices.
Moreover, As they require neither electronic nor electrical connections, the devices based on this alloy are simpler, lighter and more resistant, This makes them ideal for industrial applications where regular maintenance is not possible.
With the development of green technologies, having automatic mechanisms capable of operating at extreme temperatures could make all the difference: Not only would they make hydrogen systems safer, but also more economical and reliable.
A metal that acts like a muscle and thinks like a machine
Which makes this alloy unique, It is not only its resistance to cold, but its almost biological behavior, As if he had muscle memory. The material reacts to temperature variations by precise, useful and reproducible movements.
The key lies in its internal structure and its behavior at certain temperatures, where atoms reorganize to produce a phase transformation. It is this change that generates strength and allows metal to regain its initial shape, As if he obeyed an order inscribed in him.
Scientists also discovered that they could adjust this critical temperature by modifying the proportion of aluminum and manganese. Thus, with a few variations in the percentages, they can design switches that are active exactly at the desired point, without margin of error.
This progress undoubtedly opens a large field of possibilities, from spatial cooling systems to new forms of automation on earth. A metal capable of “remembering” of its form could well become the invisible muscle of the technologies of the future, today.
