Transparent Aluminum(blog.makezine.com)
blog.makezine.com
Transparent Aluminum
http://blog.makezine.com/2012/01/17/transparent-aluminum/
11 comments
It's phrased that way because of the Star Trek IV reference.
I think it comes up in the same scene where Scotty is flustered because the 1980's computer doesn't respond to voice commands...
I think it comes up in the same scene where Scotty is flustered because the 1980's computer doesn't respond to voice commands...
"Use the mouse."
Scotty picks up mouse, speaks to it
"Hello computer..."
From the comments, it seems not many people got the reference. That's a shame, as it means people are either not a fan of Star trek (blasphemy), or are not old enough to get the reference, which makes me feel antiquated.
Scotty picks up mouse, speaks to it
"Hello computer..."
From the comments, it seems not many people got the reference. That's a shame, as it means people are either not a fan of Star trek (blasphemy), or are not old enough to get the reference, which makes me feel antiquated.
> the 1980's computer
Which is, incidentally, a Mac Plus.
Which is, incidentally, a Mac Plus.
Agreed. AlON is cool stuff, but sapphire / aluminum oxide is just as transparent.
Maybe they can do a followup on transparent silicon next: this silicon dioxide stuff is super clear!
Maybe they can do a followup on transparent silicon next: this silicon dioxide stuff is super clear!
That other engineering news source "The Daily Mail" has a non-blacked out article on this.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2088257/Star-...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2088257/Star-...
Non-blacked out wikipedia entry:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_oxynitride
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_oxynitride
Key sentence: "successfully resists a huge, powerful .50 AP bullet that smashes easily through more than twice that thickness of conventional laminated glass armor"
So in reality this is a modest improvement (2x) over existing laminated glass armour for use where both thickness and resistance are critical (ie. probably for specialist military applications only)
So in reality this is a modest improvement (2x) over existing laminated glass armour for use where both thickness and resistance are critical (ie. probably for specialist military applications only)
> So in reality this is a modest improvement (2x) over existing laminated glass armour
More than 2x actually - the guy behind the glass would be dead, unlike the one behind their improved glass. I'd say this is a significant difference - they deserve some extra credit for keeping the guy behind their armor alive.
I do find the title a little misleading though, since this has nothing to do with metallic aluminum as one would expect from reading the title.
More than 2x actually - the guy behind the glass would be dead, unlike the one behind their improved glass. I'd say this is a significant difference - they deserve some extra credit for keeping the guy behind their armor alive.
I do find the title a little misleading though, since this has nothing to do with metallic aluminum as one would expect from reading the title.
>More than 2x actually - the guy behind the glass would be dead, unlike the one behind their improved glass.
I think what twelvechairs meant is that you have to buy (at least) twice as much of the old stuff to keep the guy alive.
I think what twelvechairs meant is that you have to buy (at least) twice as much of the old stuff to keep the guy alive.
How do their weights compare?
If the new stuff is the same weight by volume as conventional laminated glass, then you'd have a 50% weight savings.
If the new stuff is thinner, and lighter, then it'd be useful for applications where the current glass is too thick and/or heavy.
Also, in applications like secure windows for bank tellers and such, something thinner would probably be better aesthetically. When you're dealing with someone behind a thick sheet of glass, it puts a different tone on the interaction.
If the new stuff is the same weight by volume as conventional laminated glass, then you'd have a 50% weight savings.
If the new stuff is thinner, and lighter, then it'd be useful for applications where the current glass is too thick and/or heavy.
Also, in applications like secure windows for bank tellers and such, something thinner would probably be better aesthetically. When you're dealing with someone behind a thick sheet of glass, it puts a different tone on the interaction.
Alon is ~3.7g/cc which is about twice what ordinary glass weighs. Not sure how it compares to laminated glass. They probably use a denser glass than I'm used to for armored glass, but it's layered with other, presumably less-dense material.
I doubt that most "bullet-proof" glass could stop a 50 caliber round at all. The thickness required would be ridiculous.
Without knowing the failure points of both products I am not sure how you can make such a claim. The glass failed in this demonstration and the ALON did not. Obviously the glass needs to be even thicker (making it a ridiculous solution in most cases) and the ALON might work even if it is thinner.
"The material, aluminium oxynitride, known as AION, is four times harder than fused silica glass, 85 per cent as hard as sapphire and stable up to a temperature of 1,200C."
Quote from the Daily Mail article linked above.
Quote from the Daily Mail article linked above.
Blacked out. This SOPA thing could be really bad.
Those sites that are completely blacked out, like makezine and Wikipedia, are doing exactly what many accuse DRM of doing. Annoying their users while producing no real benefit. Google's and HN's methods are better.
ADDED: Most of them don't particularly matter to me, I rarely use Wikipedia, for example. The one that has annoyed me is the Internet Archive blackout - www.archive.org
ADDED: Most of them don't particularly matter to me, I rarely use Wikipedia, for example. The one that has annoyed me is the Internet Archive blackout - www.archive.org
[deleted]
McCoy: You know, if we give him the formula, we'll be altering the future.
Scotty: Why? how do you know he didn't invent the thing!The Presidential limo is rumored to have its windows made out of this stuff.
So this is what the next macbook pro will be made of?
Only if a significant number of people show up at the Genius Bar with bullet-riddled macbooks.
Here's one to start you off.
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/macbook-gun-shot-israel-sec...
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/macbook-gun-shot-israel-sec...
There are hidden bullet sensors all over the chassis, you wouldn't stand a chance.
remind me to try reading this tomorrow
I was expecting some Star Trek reference in the comments. Seriously, nobody? Everyone blackened their geekdom to fight SOPA?
That was the first comment I was gonna write when I saw the title, but you beat me to it.
This material is not metallic transparent aluminum. It is a transparent aluminum ceramic.
A lot of ceramics are made (in part) of aluminum. I think that this is interesting because it's transparent.