Dry Ice Made into Super-tough Glass

janus zeal writes "A form of solid carbon dioxide that could be used to make ultra-hard glass or coatings for microelectronic devices has been discovered. The material, named amorphous carbonia, was created by scientists from the University of Florence in Italy. Writing in the journal Nature, the team says the material was theoretically possible but had never been created. It was made by squeezing dry ice, a form of carbon dioxide used to create smoke in stage shows, at huge pressure. Scientists are interested in the new material because of the potential applications. Also, they believe it could give them clues to the processes that happen in the center of huge gas giant planets such as Jupiter."

Comments

Um... a bit too intricate?

[Heavyporker]

Wouldn't it be easier to just fund more research into making current diamond-producing processes better at forming larger pieces of diamond which could be used to make plate glass or such? I mean, geez, carbon dioxide a solid at room temperature...

Re:Um... a bit too intricate?

[1u3hr]

But you would agree if it were known apriori there could be NO application to a research avenue, there isn't much use for the research.

You can confidently say there is no application (this millenium at least) for at least half of physics research, most astronomical or maths research, not to mention the Arts, where people would be highly offended if you even asked them for a practical application.

Re:Um... a bit too intricate?

[fermion]

I know what you mean about the application section. It seems that sometimes researchers just look around the room and figure out an application for the first thing they see.

In this case the lens thing may not be so crackpot. SiO2, quartz, is the lens and glass material used in certain situations. Single crystal is just in the more demanding cases, but amorphous is used where possible. The size of a single crystal quartz stone is limited due to growth constraints. Chemicaly CO2 and SiO2 might bind well enough to allow the amorphous glass to be used in more situations. Don't know, been a while since I worked with eitherbut it seems like on of the first things that might be tried as soon as they get the process working.

Re:Just needs Stability,

[RsG]

I wonder if this is similar to Aerogel?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerogel

From the description in TFA it seems similar, but I don't have the background in chemistry to make an educated guess. Anyone with credentials care to enlighten me?

And if this stuff is just a new aerogel varient, what's the advantage to it? I was under the impression that we'd need to make aerogel in space if we wanted it in quantity, this new stuff seems to have been made on earth, but requires pressure and/or cold to stay stable.

Not so much with the dry ice any more

[jfengel]

For stage shows, fog machines are far more controllable and produce better results than dropping dry ice in water. They use "fog juice" rather than dry ice.

Though sometimes you'll use dry ice to cool the resulting fog. The hot fog gives you a smoky, atmospheric effect. If you want ground-hugging fog, you've got to cool it down, and dry ice is a pretty good way to chill it quickly.

Re:Not so much with the dry ice any more

[Bo'Bob'O]

I suppose this is a bit off topic, but what the heck.

I use both regularly at work, for as much an expert that does or doesn't make me. Refrigerated heavy fog machines are great, but both are still used. In my experience at least, when used properly dry ice has a much richer, heavier effect then the machines like Jem (which we have) or Le Maitre makes. Of course, from a practical standpoint the heavy foggers are much more convenient. But for a good, one shot effect, we still often go with a large dry ice machine.

Re:Just needs Stability,

[McBainLives]

Hey- not every member of Congress is that dumb. Don't ask me to name 'em, of course...

But I digress.

I think you're on to something here- but instead of redefining the temperature and pressure, re-define the room. Maybe this stuff could be used for constructing deep-sea exploration vehicles and habitats. That'll shave off a few degrees / add a few atmospheres to the temperature and pressure targets.

Remember:
Up on the shore they work all day
Out in the sun they slave away
While we devotin'
Full time to floatin'
Under the sea...

Fog machine fog isn't toxic, but can be a problem.

[CFD339]

I am a firefighter. Actually, I'm a Lt. on an Engine company -- one of the volunteer firefighters who protect about 40% of the US population (most people don't realize how much of the US is protected by volunteer firefighters).

We train using fog machines frequently, because if something goes wrong you can remove your SCBA and breath normally.

In a training event for "Explorers" not too long ago, we used this fake smoke on a hot day. We had to cancel the use of it because several of the kids has asthma attacks. After investigating, the only explanation we could find, was that the appearance of smoke creates the expectation that it will be difficult to breathe. That expectation can be self fulfilling -- especially in young people who have had bad reactions to actual smoke in the past.

Oh well.