Flexible rods affected by charge

[mooeypoo]

Hey guys,

 

I'm actually not sure which physics subforum this fits into, since I don't remember exactly what those rods were.. I'm hoping someone can help.

 

A while ago a friend of mine from the department told me about a type of metal-like rod that can bend and flex, but retains its original shape when charge is passed through it. I don't remember the name, but it has one. I remember that I *did* find it online, but I can't, for the life of me, find it again.

 

I also have no access to that friend anymore, so I can't ask again, sadly..

 

Does anyone know anything about this? Any help will be appreciated!

 

~moo

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Correction: When *current* passes through these wires, they straighten up. So if you had a loop, you pass a current through it, the wire straightens.

 

Damn. I know those exist. I have no clue what the name is. So frustrating.

[moth]

are you thinking of shape memory alloy, like nitinol?

[mooeypoo]

Nitinol wire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7jjqXh7bB4

 

Awesome trick, hehe but no, I don't mean that. The wire I mean turns flat/straight with *current*, not temperature.