The discussion revolves around selecting a thin flexible metal rod that can withstand 6,000 cycles of bending without breaking or returning to its original shape. Participants explore material properties relevant to flexibility, ductility, and malleability, considering both theoretical and practical aspects of material selection.
Participants express various viewpoints on suitable materials, with no consensus reached on a single best option. There are differing opinions on the effectiveness of different metals and designs for achieving the desired cycle life.
Participants highlight the importance of understanding the distinctions between ductility and malleability, as well as the implications of material choice on performance and longevity under cyclic loading.
mugaliens said:"Flexible" is a broad term covering both maleable and and spring metals. Since you want it to stay put, you're looking for something that's ductile, capable of being deformed (tension) plastically without fracture, and maleable, capable of being deformed (compression) plastically without fracture. Since you specified a rod, it will be undergoing both tension and compression during it's 6k cycles.
Ductility and maleability are not synonomous, and some materials are good in one but poor in the other. Gold is both the most ductile and maleable of all metals, followed by silver.
I'd go for the gold! It's a pretty good conductor, too. If cost is an issue, try iron, nickel, or tin (pure forms, not the alloys).