Metallic fibre question...

[Singular Intellect]

I'm trying to look up some information on metallic fibre technology; more specifically, very flexible metallic fibre that is responsive to magnetic forces or becomes magnetic when having a current run through it.

Anyone have some suggestions or links I could read up on? My google fu is weak...

[Surlethe]

Regarding your second question, if you run a current through anything, you'll make a magnet. This is very basic physics. You're probably looking for a metallic fibre that is a good conductor instead of one that turns into a magnet when you run current through it.

[Magus]

metallic fibre that is responsive to magnetic forces or becomes magnetic when having a current run through it.

These are properties of most metals. The only thing that might narrow it down slightly is the "very flexible" part - do you have a specific application you're researching?

[Singular Intellect]

metallic fibre that is responsive to magnetic forces or becomes magnetic when having a current run through it.

These are properties of most metals. The only thing that might narrow it down slightly is the "very flexible" part - do you have a specific application you're researching?

Yes, I'm looking into seeing if one could have a metal fibre that would be as flexible as, say, a spool of string and yet when magnetized becomes rigid.

[Magus]

Yes, I'm looking into seeing if one could have a metal fibre that would be as flexible as, say, a spool of string and yet when magnetized becomes rigid.

I don't think you can do that sort of thing with magnetism (though my knowledge of chemical properties is admittedly minimal). I know you can use heat for a similar effect:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shape_memory_alloy

[SpacedTeddyBear]

metallic fibre that is responsive to magnetic forces or becomes magnetic when having a current run through it.

These are properties of most metals. The only thing that might narrow it down slightly is the "very flexible" part - do you have a specific application you're researching?

Yes, I'm looking into seeing if one could have a metal fibre that would be as flexible as, say, a spool of string and yet when magnetized becomes rigid.

I don't think such a material exists. Magnetizing a metal aligns magnetic domains which does nothing to the mechanical properties of metals.

[Jaepheth]

You might be able to have a theoretical composite material that's engineered to have that quality. But it'd be much more complicated than a simple metal wire.

I could imagine a sort of chain made of metal and non-conductive nano-scale components whose structure subtly shifts when in the presence of a magnetic field that makes itself rigid. Of course, in reality such a structure would probably be impractical, failure prone, and ridiculously expensive.

On second thought, it probably doesn't have to be nano-scale, but you're still going to have the other problems.

[Rye]

Are you thinking of magnetic shape memory alloys? They're the closest thing I can think of to what you're asking. I have no idea if they've turned some of that stuff into a thread.

[Winston Blake]

A thin tube filled with magnetorheological fluid might approximate this behaviour.