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Ultra-pure Glass Made with Levitation

Posted by michael on from the levitate-this dept.

lc_overlord writes "Space.com has a story on a new type of glass. 'Using static electricity fields to levitate the material, scientists were able to construct a pure glass, free of any contamination typically associated with containers.' The glass is made of rare earth aluminum oxide and small amounts of silicon dioxide."

5 of 36 comments (clear)

  1. Frist PSot!"! by Dr.+GeneMachine · · Score: 2, Insightful

    And read TFA... One question - why do they want to conduct this experiments in microgravity, when the major effects stem from the contact-free nature of the production process? Any thoughts?

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    1. Re:Frist PSot!"! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The might want to prevent seperation of the Alumina and Silica, or help prevent larger eddies from convection from forming, or forming with a common orientation.

    2. Re:Frist PSot!"! by putaro · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Because it's hard to levitate a significant amount of material?

  2. Re:Not April Fools? by nadda · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I fail to see how this could be put to good use any time soon.
    Not sure about anytime soon, but seems if they can refine the process, could it lead to better fiber optics?

  3. Re:SuperGlass! by ColaMan · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Your glass, no matter how obscenely pure, would still melt.

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    You are in a twisty maze of processor lines, all alike.
    There is a lot of hype here.