Transparent Aluminum

[M.D. Holloway]

Transparent Aluminum? Well, almost...

Navy researchers make bulletproof glass out of clay


Didn't Scotty mention this in a Star Trek movie? Hmmmm...

What other truly space age material can you find out about?

[slodave]

Pic?

[M.D. Holloway]

The US Naval Research Laboratory announced a major breakthrough in materials science on Thursday. After decades of research and development, the NRL has created a transparent, bulletproof material that can be molded into virtually any shape. This material, known as Spinel, is made from a synthetic powdered clay that is heated and pressed under vacuum (aka sintered) into transparent sheets. "Spinel is actually a mineral, it's magnesium aluminate," Dr. Jas Sanghera, who leads the research, said in a statement. "The advantage is it's so much tougher, stronger, harder than glass. It provides better protection in more hostile environments -- so it can withstand sand and rain erosion."


What's really cool is that unlike most forms of commercially available bulletproof glass -- which is formed by pressing alternating layers of glass and plastic sheeting together -- Spinel doesn't block the infrared wavelength of light. That means that this stuff can protect a UAV's surveillance camera or the lens of a HEL-MD laser without hindering the device's operation. Plus, Spinel weighs just a fraction of a modern bulletproof pane. "If you replaced that [pane] with spinel, you'd reduce the weight by a factor of two or more," Sanghera continued. The NRL now plans to share the Spinel production process with the rest of the defense industry.

[Nostril Cheese]

Now to find those damn whales..

[aigel]

I hope they can make it flat, clear and with no cracks. Looks like this is early stage. A one-off lab sample. "Johnny, find the best looking run, take a pic, and rotate it so the cracks aren't so obvious". Yes, I have worked in R&D a lot!

G

[URY914]

Originally Posted by slodave

Pic?

I found this on online....























.

[dewolf]

^ lol....very good!

[Aurel]

That is very interesting. I have worked with spinel LiMn2O4 as Li-ion battery cathode material for many years. Here we have MgAl2O4. Spinel is a large family of the same crystal structure.

[kach22i]

Very cool, the future is here.

How did I get so old in the process?

[mreid]

Seeing red ages you.

[slodave]

URY914 got it. Thanks!

[LEAKYSEALS951]

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

And to think I saw that movie in the theater. lol

[sc_rufctr]

Awesome tech... One really good use would be to replace the windscreen of air craft with this stuff.
Imagine being impervious to bird strikes!