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Scotty gave you the formula in 1986 where is it!

Transparent aluminum exists. It has the trade name ALON for Aluminum Oxynitride. Super expensive though.

Doh! Killing that trailing / would help. http://www.surmet.com/docs/ALON%20Press%20Release_ August%202003.pdf

http://www.surmet.com/alon.html

From site:
      What is ALON(TM) Optical Ceramic?
      ALON is a patented optical, polycrystalline ceramic with a grain size of 80 m to 250 m.
      ALON has optical, mechanical and physical properties very similar to sapphire.
      ALON can be made in more complex shapes, larger sizes, and at lower costs than sapphire

Chemical Name: Aluminum Oxynitride
This is similar to Aluminum Oxide also known as Sapphire (Al2O3) and Alumina which is also Al2O3

I would imagine a Diamond like Carbon crystal would have an even higher thermal conductivity and at the same time be even more durable and harder.

Here is a link to the datasheet! http://www.surmet.com/docs/Product_sheet_ALON.pdf

Here's your picture!

http://www.surmet.com/docs/ALON%20Press%20Release_ August%202003.pdf

-Rob

A link to a press report showing an image of ALONtm.

http://www.surmet.com/docs/ALON%20Press%20Release_ August%202003.pdf

-Rob

Pics:
http://www.surmet.com/alon.html
Click on the four "Applications" links at upper left for more pics.

Looks like it's a few years old, but still interesting stuff. http://www.surmet.com/docs/ALON%20Press%20Release_ August%202003.pdf/

the website of the TM and Patent holder

http://www.surmet.com/alon.html

Google finds some pics as expected (Sorry, PDF) :
    http://www.surmet.com/docs/Processing_ALON.pdf

I'm not 100% certain if they're genuine or mock ups though...

~Pev