Mechanics > Properties of Matter > Coefficient of Restitution DCS# 1R40.10(2)

COEFFICIENT OF RESTITUTION - AMORPHOUS METAL


APPARATUS
plexiglas tubes with aluminum and Liquidmetal bases
202-16-E3
steel balls 202-16-E3
video camera 202

DESCRIPTION
Drop balls simultaneously onto the aluminum and amorphous metal bases and compare the rebound heights.

NOTES
The amorphous metal is an alloy of Zr, Be, Ti, Cu, and Ni, cooled from the molten state quickly enough to prevent crystallization.  When the ball strikes the amorphous metal, little energy goes into deforming the metal, unlike the crystalline metal in which energy is used in creating and moving dislocations.  Pits can be seen on the surface of the aluminum.

Liquidmetal is noteworthy in that it can be cooled more slowly than other amorphous metals - sufficiently slowly to be molded and processed using conventional techniques.  See the links below for applications.

REFERENCES
http://mrsec.wisc.edu/Edetc/cineplex/amorphous/index.html

http://materialsworld.utep.edu/Background/Inorganic%20Chemistry/PDF%20files/Amorphous%20Metal.pdf
http://www.liquidmetal.com/index/default.asp