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Magnetic Metal Foam Shape Shifter

Posted January 13, 2008 8:34 AM by Sharkles

Researchers at Boise State (Idaho) and Northwestern (Chicago) developed magnetic shape-memory foam from a nickel-manganese-gallium alloy. The foam's metal grain deforms up to 10% under a magnetic field. The material retains the resulting shape when the field is removed, but returns to its original shape if the magnetic field is rotated 90 degrees. What applications can you envision?

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Anonymous Poster
#1

Re: Magnetic Metal Foam Shape Shifter

01/14/2008 4:40 PM

Stage demonstrations.
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HUX
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#2

Re: Magnetic Metal Foam Shape Shifter

01/15/2008 4:38 AM

workholding / clamping / relocatable fixtures
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EnviroMan
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#3

Re: Magnetic Metal Foam Shape Shifter

01/15/2008 7:28 AM

Implantable pumps for medicinals (insulin, steroids, antibiotics, hormones, etc.); possibly even an artificial heart or kidney if the volume can be increased sufficiently.

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pashenit
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Location: Forest Grove, OR and Beijing, China
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#4

Re: Magnetic Metal Foam Shape Shifter

01/22/2008 2:55 PM

For some reason this made me think about a material that can actually interact with ionic gases in the air in such a way that the material becomes suspended in air..as in "alien technology"...ET all all that hubba bubba...think about it...hehehe

Is it possible that is the reason many UFOs have been reported to change shape..kinda like a water balloon does when tossed..is because maybe the shape changing is the actually the crafts metallic outer shell interacting with the ion gases in the air rendering the craft weightless.

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EnviroMan
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#5
In reply to #4

Re: Magnetic Metal Foam Shape Shifter

01/22/2008 5:59 PM

I don't know about the "weightless" part, but it sounds like it could be the basis for a propusion system...hmmm. Nice choice in avatars, by the way, my compliments!

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Anonymous Poster
#6

Re: Magnetic Metal Foam Shape Shifter

01/23/2008 2:35 PM

Looks like it could have some applications in PLC systems. Form it into a rod and see what happens.
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