Just curious, what would be the type of material that would give the most efficient rebound?

I’m thinking perhaps something like a high-carbon steel ball dropped onto a steel plate from a height that would keep the ball below the speed at which it would suffer from plastic deformation.
Any better examples?

Spiny Norman said:

Just curious, what would be the type of material that would give the most efficient rebound?

I’m thinking perhaps something like a high-carbon steel ball dropped onto a steel plate from a height that would keep the ball below the speed at which it would suffer from plastic deformation.
Any better examples?

I can’t think of any better combination, except perhaps various different alloy combinations?

I wonder how much temperature would influence the results? perhaps best at just above absolute zero?

Spiny Norman said:

Just curious, what would be the type of material that would give the most efficient rebound?

Mirror and photons

Spiny Norman said:

Just curious, what would be the type of material that would give the most efficient rebound?

I’m thinking perhaps something like a high-carbon steel ball dropped onto a steel plate from a height that would keep the ball below the speed at which it would suffer from plastic deformation.
Any better examples?

Very interesting.

I don’t know.

Crystalline substances such as diamond should also resist deformation quite well but the height might have to be restricted more than in the case of steel (as diamond is brittle).

wasn’t there something posted on one of our forums about this at some time? i seem to remember some aterial invented to do with this.

bob(from black rock) said:

I wonder how much temperature would influence the results? perhaps best at just above absolute zero?

They’d just shatter at those temperatures, surely.

plain old rubber I’d say

I’m sure the shape of the two objects would play a part…
Two balls rather than a ball and plate ?

Brett

Thomo said:

I’m sure the shape of the two objects would play a part…
Two balls rather than a ball and plate ?

Brett

Yes, steel balls in a Newton’s Cradle seem to be pretty elastic.

Spiny Norman said:

Just curious, what would be the type of material that would give the most efficient rebound?

I’m thinking perhaps something like a high-carbon steel ball dropped onto a steel plate from a height that would keep the ball below the speed at which it would suffer from plastic deformation.
Any better examples?

“Spring steel” would be the best of the easily available steels. 301 Spring-tempered stainless steel (A666) has a very high yield strength of up to 1000 MPa. That’s four times a high as some steels.

I see a report of a titanium alloy (72% Ti, 28% Fe, with a small amount of tantalum) with a yield strength of 2000 MPa.

“There is a process called patenting which is used in the processing of steel. Patented steels can have yield strength as high as 4000 MPa. This ultra strong stuff is used in cables of suspension bridges. The downside is that it can only be processed as wires.”