[i]I fucking love Cracked.com
The source of this is [url]www.Cracked.com[/url][/i]
[img]http://www.rense.com/1.imagesC/clearalum.jpg[/img]
You may remember from Star Trek IV that Scotty orders some transparent aluminum so that they can steal whales for the future (it made a lot more sense at the time). Anyway, in the movie the material baffled the present-day engineers he described it to, since it's a miracle substance from centuries in the future.
[img]http://www.alemassociates.com/essays/tocr/fig_9.jpg[/img]
In reality, transparent alumina has been around for a while. Originally, it was just boring old sapphires and rubies (both are transparent aluminum crystals), but as we have seen, mankind is not happy to let nature have the last laugh and we are now able to make transparent alumina, which is a clear metal that is as strong as steel. Our dreams of building Wonder Woman's invisible jet have taken another glorious step toward reality.
[img]http://www.fos.su.se/images/web/IMGP3817.JPG[/img]
[i]a photoshot on the computer screen through a 36mm alumina piece
Project started in 2003[/i]
[b]What the Hell is it Used For?[/b]
The military (again) wants it for see-through armor, probably so that every time a soldier standing behind a clear wall gets shot at and flinches in life-flashing-before-the-eyes terror, his buddies are justified for punching him and calling "two for flinching."
Transparent alumina could usher in a new world where windows deflect bullets, or airplane windows don't shatter when they hit a goose at Mach 4. The downside being that if they make car windows out of it, people who don't wear their seat belts will no longer live the dream of being "thrown clear" of the accident, and more likely wind up as "that guy whose nose shot out his ass."
Now some CopyPasta from Wikipedia with a more scientific explanation:
[i]...The incorporation of nitrogen into an aluminum oxide stabilizes a spinel phase, which due to its cubic crystal structure, is an isotropic material that can be produced as a transparent polycrystalline material. Polycrystalline materials can be produced in complex geometries using conventional ceramic forming techniques such as pressing, (hot) isostatic pressing, and slip casting...
Transparent ceramics have recently acquired a high degree of interest and notoriety, the basic applications being high energy lasers, transparent armor windows, nose cones for heat seeking missiles, radiation detectors for non-destructive testing, high energy physics, space exploration, security and medical imaging applications.
The development of transparent materials will have many advanced applications including high strength, impact-resistant materials that can be used as windows in domestic and industrial buildings. Construction materials will have improved overall strength, especially for high-shear conditions introduced by earthquakes and high winds. If these expectations bear fruit, the traditional limits seen current building codes could quickly become outdated if the window portion of the structure actually contributes to the shear strength of the wall. [/i]
There aren't much pictures on this stuff, but personally, I'd love a bike frame made from it. Seriously, having a bike frame that you can see through would be pretty rad if you ask me.
Feel free to post any additional information you may have found, or pictures I didn't yet include.
So now the invisible man can have an invisble metal house.
Why would someone flying at Mach 4 hit a goose? Wouldn't they be flying higher than any goose? Also cool article bro, it's a cool material
I have a couple of questions.
How much does it cost to make this?
How long does it take for this stuff to rust?
This could be fun.
[QUOTE=ASmellyOgre;16167367]I have a couple of questions.
How much does it cost to make this?
How long does it take for this stuff to rust?[/QUOTE]
I don't think aluminum rusts, but I could be wrong
Awesome, these will be the new windows if it's cheap
Invisible soda cans!
[QUOTE=Tibbles;16167302]people who don't wear their seat belts will no longer live the dream of being "thrown clear" of the accident, and more likely wind up as "that guy whose nose shot out his ass."[/QUOTE]
good those people need to die anyway
I wonder what's better - transparent aluminium* foil or plastic wrap?
[QUOTE=gamefreekv2;16167401]Invisible soda cans![/QUOTE]
Whoa that would be cool.
[QUOTE=Limerick;16167449]Whoa that would be cool.[/QUOTE]
Indeed it would.
Indestrucable fish tanks, 0-gas household lights(maybe?), Unscratchable(?) Reading glasses, I could go on with other possabilities. Space flight is Rank #1 in my book. :nod:
[img]http://www.hame.ca/blog2/pictures/scotty.jpg[/img]
Such a good movie.
Nigga can't steal this invisible bike
Okay call me dumb but what would be the point of getting shot behind this and getting terrified when I'm sure you can just stand behind bullet proof glass and get the same view?
I see lots of potential in construction for this kind of material. In cruise ships, airplanes, car frames... Anything you would otherwise have to have a window in to see out of. It would increase the field of vision considerably...
[editline]08:57PM[/editline]
[quote=sheepy!;16167646]okay call me dumb but what would be the point of getting shot behind this and getting terrified when i'm sure you can just stand behind bullet proof glass and get the same view?[/quote]
Bonk!
[QUOTE=Sheepy!;16167646]Okay call me dumb but what would be the point of getting shot behind this and getting terrified when I'm sure you can just stand behind bullet proof glass and get the same view?[/QUOTE]
bulletproof glass isn't anywhere near as strong as this stuff and it cracks when hit.
Imagine the possiblities!
[QUOTE=StupidUsername67;16167712]bulletproof glass isn't anywhere near as strong as this stuff and it cracks when hit.[/QUOTE]
Okay but wouldn't that intensify the experience?
This has been around for a few years now. The Armored Car industry uses it frequently for window screens. Bullet proof to most rounds from what I've seen.
[QUOTE=Sheepy!;16167646]Okay call me dumb but what would be the point of getting shot behind this and getting terrified when I'm sure you can just stand behind bullet proof glass and get the same view?[/QUOTE]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIX7K8D0mFM[/media]
Wait, so is it a metal or metallic crystal? Because one is brittle and the other malleable
Holy Jesus @ the video
Invisible soda cans, now!
[QUOTE=Itszutak;16167857]Wait, so is it a metal or metallic crystal? Because one is brittle and the other malleable[/QUOTE]
It's a man made metal, using metallic crystals to give transparency
It's the strength of steel. But as clear as thin fog. :)
[QUOTE=Mumblecrust;16167576][img]http://www.hame.ca/blog2/pictures/scotty.jpg[/img]
Such a good movie.[/QUOTE]
Hahaha, I was wondering when someone was going to post this. I was going to if no one did.
Alumina is ceramic, not metal.
[QUOTE=chronochicke;16167365]Why would someone flying at Mach 4 hit a [B]goose[/B]? Wouldn't they be flying higher than any [B]goose[/B]? Also cool article bro, it's a cool material[/QUOTE]
Huh what
Now I can see what's in my soda can [I]before[/I] I drink it!
Cool thread, I love these types of things.
[QUOTE=atomicthumbs;16168951]Alumina is ceramic, not metal.[/QUOTE]
Thank you, this is what I was wondering.
Still waiting for a /metal/ that is transparent and not a /crystal/.
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