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Transparent Alumina - (aluminum oxide) Three Times Stronger Than Steel
www.rense.com ^ | 2-25-02

Posted on 05/01/2002 5:38:11 PM PDT by FatherTorque

Transparent Alumina -
Three Times Stronger Than Steel

A ceramic research lab in Dresden, Germany, has developed transparent Alumina by subjecting fine-grained (I'm guessing extremely fine-grained) aluminum to a whopping 1200 degrees Celsius ...the result of which is amazingly light but three times tougher than hardened steel of the same thickness, and it's see-through.
 
Needless to say, the Pentagon is quite interested.
 
 
 
 
For story (in German)
 
http://www.spiegel.de
 
According to a post at Slashdot (News for Nerds) this is not transparent aluminum but transparent Alumina, which is aluminum oxide - Al2-O3.



Also found this link here, which already has translations from the German website.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Technical
KEYWORDS: aluminum; oxide; realscience; techindex; transparent
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1 posted on 05/01/2002 5:38:11 PM PDT by FatherTorque
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To: tech_index
Putting aside the obvious Star Trek jokes, this would make for some interesting new items eh?
2 posted on 05/01/2002 5:38:44 PM PDT by FatherTorque
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To: FatherTorque
It would make some nifty beer cans . . . .
3 posted on 05/01/2002 5:41:29 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: FatherTorque
This is so very interesting! Thanks for posting it. (Mr. Scott was always my favorite!)
4 posted on 05/01/2002 5:41:48 PM PDT by Clara Lou
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To: FatherTorque
"I said I wanted an aluminum shower stall, not alumina!"
5 posted on 05/01/2002 5:46:24 PM PDT by Larry Lucido
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To: FatherTorque
I'm trading in the old tin-foil hat for one made out of Alumina!
6 posted on 05/01/2002 5:47:05 PM PDT by mdittmar
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To: FatherTorque
My 2nd thought was Star Trek. The first thought was Wonder Woman and her see-thru plane! The military could make some nifty drone planes with this stuff, what with the wings and most of the plane nearly invisible.
7 posted on 05/01/2002 5:49:30 PM PDT by roadcat
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To: FatherTorque
Way too cool! How much I wonder? Time to get rid of the titanium watch band, eh?
8 posted on 05/01/2002 5:50:25 PM PDT by abner
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To: FatherTorque
Also known as sapphire...
9 posted on 05/01/2002 5:50:40 PM PDT by null and void
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To: FatherTorque
I need some of that stuff!
10 posted on 05/01/2002 5:52:04 PM PDT by abner
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To: FatherTorque
Uses?

A few come to mind:

1. Light weight engines. (with easy diagnosis of ignition problems)

2. Extraplanetary habitats/greenhouses.

3 Hail resistant skylights.

4. Fiberoptics?

5. NOT multilevel floors (for obvious reasons.)

11 posted on 05/01/2002 5:52:46 PM PDT by realpatriot
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To: FatherTorque
It would be a great candidate material for windows on spacecraft and or space stations.
12 posted on 05/01/2002 5:52:51 PM PDT by Brett66
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To: FatherTorque
Alumina is closer to what we call ceramic than metallic.

That doesn't decrease the value of it, perhaps even increases the possible uses?

13 posted on 05/01/2002 5:53:42 PM PDT by AzJP
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To: FatherTorque
Das ist gut!
14 posted on 05/01/2002 5:56:23 PM PDT by sheik yerbouty
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To: *RealScience
index bump
15 posted on 05/01/2002 6:01:54 PM PDT by Fish out of Water
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To: Fish out of Water
Please add me to your index?
16 posted on 05/01/2002 6:03:36 PM PDT by realpatriot
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To: FatherTorque
"helloooo computer..."
17 posted on 05/01/2002 6:03:42 PM PDT by Redcloak
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To: Redcloak

"How do we know he didn't invent the thing??!"

18 posted on 05/01/2002 6:08:22 PM PDT by mikrofon
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To: Redcloak
10 bonus points if you know what kind of computer Mr. Scott was talking to.
19 posted on 05/01/2002 6:08:28 PM PDT by FatherTorque
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To: realpatriot
You can go to the bump lists and scroll down to Real Science to find article indexed to the list. You can't be added or notified of new articles. Bump List folders
20 posted on 05/01/2002 6:09:12 PM PDT by Fish out of Water
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