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New Alloy Stronger Than Fe And Ti

Posted by Hemos on from the stronger-then-any-man dept.

SoCalChris writes "According to this article on MSNBC.com, researchers at CalTech have discovered a new alloy that is stronger than steel and titanium, can be cast in a mold like plastic, and sharpened like glass. The first plans for the new alloy are to be used in golf clubs, baseball bats, skis, and cell phone covers."

6 of 435 comments (clear)

  1. Re:only time ... by peteypooh · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I've studied some ballisitics... these days, most armored vehicles would not be affected by the 'sharpness' of a bullet (assuming a kinetic-energy based round). Rather, factors like it's length-to-width ratio and material density play a much bigger role. Under the velocities we are talking about for a kinetic-energy round, the round 'melts' as it hits the armor and effectively tries to bore through it (and spew molten metal to the inside, injuring occupants and equipment, and maybe setting some ammo or fuel ablaze.)

  2. Hazardous? by jhines · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The alloy contains beryllium, a particularly toxic metal, requiring special handling.

    Does this make this alloy hazardous as well?

  3. So, try this idea out: by Fixer · · Score: 3, Interesting
    A Foundry in every kitchen combined with this new metal which can be formed and cast at low tempratures.

    So, I can now make highly accurate metal parts in my home with zero machining or finishing stages.

    Combine that with a computer controlled mill to make the wax images for the ceramic molds, and I can now build anything that the properties of the metal will support.

    Technology kicks so much ass. And marketing-speak sucks donkey nuts.. what ARE the properties of this metal? How thick does it have to be to be used as a gun-barrel? Rigidity? mmm.. sigh.

    --
    "Avast! Prepare for the rodgering!" THWACK! "Arrr.. me nards.."
  4. Bicycle Frame by Robert+Frazier · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This would be great for bicycle frames, especially if it can be more easily handled than titanium.

    My hope is that it means that I can go really fast without losing weight. Because, as we all know, getting a really light bicycle means that one can be as fat as one likes and go fast.

    Best wishes, Bob
  5. Field Expedient by rjh · · Score: 3, Interesting

    In the military, "field expedient" is slang for "ugly hack that works surprisingly well". That said... during WW1 and WW2, the German armed forces didn't have anywhere near enough heavy machineguns to take on tanks. So the infantry made field expedient antitank rifles by taking 8mm ammunition (a very powerful round--at the turn of the century some people used them to hunt elephants), removing the bullet and then reseating the bullet, reversed, so that the blunt face would strike first. It gave the bullet the same effect as a metal die-punch; it punched neat, clean holes in steel.

    Moral of the story: "pointiness" has never been a major issue with armor-piercing ammo. It's all about the sectional density.

  6. Re:Fatigue strength? by t · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This link talks about glass. I was not referring to the technical definition of crystalline vs amorphous. To be a crystalline solid it would need long-range order. That does not mean that glass does not have short-range cyrstalline like fragments. Glass does not have the odd shaped, interlocking fragments to which I was referring to. Graphite would be a better example in that it is structured in the form of sheets, making it very brittle.This link has pictures and explanations.