Transparent Aluminum Is Here

Alien54 writes "Scientists in the US have developed a novel technique to make bulk quantities of glass from alumina for the first time. (link includes a picture of samples) Anatoly Rosenflanz and colleagues at 3M in Minnesota used a "flame-spray" technique to alloy alumina (aluminium oxide) with rare-earth metal oxides to produce strong glass with good optical properties. The method avoids many of the problems encountered in conventional glass forming and could, say the team, be extended to other oxides (see also: A Rosenflanz et al. 2004 Nature 430 761). Scotty would be pleased."

Comments

Silly submitter

[gowen]

who doesn't know the difference between Alumina and Aluminum.

What next, suggesting people use the silicon in their computers as a breast implant?

Re:woohho

[inertia187]

What I don't get is, why did they need it to be transparent for the journey home?

Re:woohho

[jayhawk88]

Because otherwise all that footage taken at Sea World would have been for nothing!

Computer mods?

[CodeMaster]

Where are all the crazy modders?

- Transparent aluminum case
- Transparent hard drives
- Transparent power supplies
All without voiding your warranty ;-)

And for military uses - the sky is the limit (really - think about it...)

Get a free ipod [it really works - my buddy just got his... should have believed it earlier ;-( ]

Sounds like a good plan for optical disks

[MyDixieWrecked]

I once knew a guy who had this great idea to use aluminum oxide on DVDs and CDs to prevent scratching. He said the disks could be bulletproof, scratchproof, and unbreakable, although I think he was exagerating...

If that was the case, that would be an AWESOME application for this. Although the MP/RIAA would see that as a reason for preventing backup copies of your media. I mean, if the disk can't be damaged, why would you need a backup? Although you could still lose it or have it stolen...