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Transparent Aluminum is Here
Slashdot ^ | 8/23/2004 | Hemos

Posted on 08/23/2004 7:16:42 AM PDT by sionnsar

from the like-blue-LEDs dept. Alien54 writes "Scientists in the US have developed a novel technique to make bulk quantities of glass from alumina for the first time. (link includes a picture of samples)

Anatoly Rosenflanz and colleagues at 3M in Minnesota used a "flame-spray" technique to alloy alumina (aluminium oxide) with rare-earth metal oxides to produce strong glass with good optical properties. The method avoids many of the problems encountered in conventional glass forming and could, say the team, be extended to other oxides (see also: A Rosenflanz et al. 2004 Nature 430 761).

Scotty would be pleased."


TOPICS: Technical
KEYWORDS: aluminium; aluminum; glass; invention
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To: sionnsar
"Scotty would be pleased"

He certainly would. Very interesting post - Thanks

Now if we could only figure out the dilithium crystal thing.

101 posted on 08/23/2004 1:39:36 PM PDT by Jasper (LIBERALS BEWARE! I lack nuance.)
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To: redheadtoo
ArGee you are being much to logical and taking the fun out my postings.

Actually, I stole that bit about the dilithium crystals being in Saudi Arabia from a movie called The Nude Bomb. Chief: Max, this desk gets 80 miles to the gallon and runs on ink.

Max: Chief, that's fantastic. We can solve the energy crisis and end our dependence on foreign oil.

Cheif: Not exactly. It's a special ink that can only be made in Saudi Arabia.

I'm not quoting it perfectly, but it's about right.

As for omnisex restrooms - that's not funny. I expect them to appear within 5 years thanks to our GLBTAOP friends.

Shalom.

102 posted on 08/23/2004 1:46:55 PM PDT by ArGee (After 517, the abolition of man is complete)
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To: Young Werther
Ever read about the Skeleton Key to the Gemstone Files in a book called Project Seek?

Ok, next question, will my aluminum hat still work it it's transparent?

Only on freerepublic can you find a link between the discovery of synthetic rubies, lasers, Howard Hughes, the Golden Triangle, the Kennedy assassination and Aristotle Onassis by reading an article about transparent aluminum.
103 posted on 08/23/2004 1:47:56 PM PDT by BabsC
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To: BabsC

Ok, next question, will my aluminum hat still work if it's transparent?


104 posted on 08/23/2004 1:49:22 PM PDT by BabsC
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To: Pyro7480

The thing that always bugged me about that scene is that Scotty seemed unfamiliar with a mouse, called the keyboard "quaint", yet started pounding away on the keys like he was a court recorder. Ooops.


105 posted on 08/23/2004 1:50:02 PM PDT by kezekiel
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To: ArGee
If it's the fact that you never saw them being recharged, remember that we never saw the crew use the loo either.

I just finished watching 2001:, and there is a scene when Dr. Heywood Floyd is reading the instructions for the zero-gravity bathroom. My wife says, "What does it do, suck the poop out of your butt?"

Yes, I love that woman.

106 posted on 08/23/2004 1:53:46 PM PDT by kezekiel
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To: kezekiel
... yet started pounding away on the keys like he was a court recorder.

Well, duh! It's because that computer was a Mac. And we all know how easy Macs are to use! < /sarcasm >

107 posted on 08/23/2004 1:55:46 PM PDT by whd23 (It's long past time to end the moon-worshipping death cult)
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To: ArGee

"Unfortunately, the dilithium crystals required to run the transporters have only been found, so far, under Mecca."

Fortunately, more can be formed by anti-matter blasts over that area.


108 posted on 08/23/2004 1:56:33 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan
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To: sionnsar

transparent would definitely be an asset, but would it still keep out the Venusian mind control beams?


109 posted on 08/23/2004 1:58:58 PM PDT by bk1000 ("We will take things away from you for the common good.": -HRC)
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To: ArrogantBustard
That was the goofiest SciFi spaceship design I've ever seen

How about all those "space fighters" built with wings on them... and obviously not for use in atmosphere because of all the hard edges.

110 posted on 08/23/2004 2:00:42 PM PDT by kezekiel
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To: BabsC

Actually, if your foil hat is made of laser quality ruby crystals then your hat will become a super receiver! Your hat will not block out signals but rather you will actually be able to communicate with the BORG! I understand 7 of 9 is available if you can find the right wavelength.


111 posted on 08/23/2004 2:58:29 PM PDT by Young Werther
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To: Robert A. Cook, PE
Right on. Well Al is awful close to the semiconductor block. It don't surprise me that one could mix up some translucent alloy or somethin.

Translucent. Transluscent. Translushent. Okay it's 'bout crashin' time...

112 posted on 08/23/2004 9:19:32 PM PDT by maxwell (Well I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation...)
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To: Charles Martel
Sigma Iotia II.

McCoy: "In all the confusion, I think I left it.

Kirk: "Left what?"

McCoy: "My communicator, I think I left it in Bella's office."

Spock: "The communicator contains a transtator, the integral part found in all machinery found of the Enterprise, so it is very likely that the imitative Iotians will have made impressive technological progress the next time they are visited by the Federation."

Kirk: "Bones, do you realize what you've done? Someday the Iotians may demand a piece of our action."

113 posted on 08/24/2004 10:32:39 PM PDT by PeaceBeWithYou (De Oppresso Liber! (50 million and counting in Afganistan and Iraq))
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To: PeaceBeWithYou
Kirk: "Bones, do you realize what you've done? Someday the Iotians may demand a piece of our action."

Okay, a small nit-pick. It was:

Kirk: "Bones, it upsets... the whole percentage!"
McCoy: "How do you mean?"
Kirk: "In a few years... the Iotians may demand... a piece of OUR action!"

(freeze frame, cue music) ;-)

I only remember the exact words becuase I was sick of Matt and Katie this morning and surfed over to the Sci-Fi Channel, just in time to see Kirk and the Iotians raise a toast to "The Syndicate".

114 posted on 08/25/2004 7:00:05 AM PDT by Charles Martel ("Diplomats. The best diplomat I know of is a fully loaded phaser bank" - Cdr. Montgomery Scott)
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To: sionnsar

Cool, except it isn't transparent aluminum.

It's transparent ALUMINA.

Aluminum Oxide. Al2-O3.


115 posted on 08/25/2004 5:01:44 PM PDT by adam_az (http://blogspirator.blogspot.com)
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To: Names Ash Housewares

Is it just me, or wouldn't you pay good money to have a cell phone that looked exactly like a Star Trek TOS communicator?


116 posted on 01/12/2005 6:11:33 AM PST by gridlock (ELIMINATE PERVERSE INCENTIVES)
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To: ArrogantBustard

Iridium is still Line-of-Sight, even if the line is straight up. Kirk's communicator could reach a starship even if it was on the other side of the planet. Of course, those styrofoam rocks are pretty transparent to radio waves. Maybe those entire planets were made of that stuff...


117 posted on 01/12/2005 6:14:56 AM PST by gridlock (ELIMINATE PERVERSE INCENTIVES)
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To: sionnsar
Ahhhh, yes ... aluminum.


118 posted on 01/12/2005 6:49:35 AM PST by Eagle9
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To: Eagle9

Does this pic come in transparent aluminum?


119 posted on 01/12/2005 8:48:52 AM PST by AxelPaulsenJr (Pray Daily For Our Troops and President Bush)
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To: AxelPaulsenJr
Does this pic come in transparent aluminum?

LOL !!     Only in our dreams ... in real life, instead of Elizabeth Hurley, the model wearing it would be Rosanne Barr.

120 posted on 01/12/2005 10:18:30 AM PST by Eagle9
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