Transparent Aluminum and high performance parts. [Archive]

stealth71

12-21-2005, 07:32 AM

So has anyone read anything about the new transparent aluminum technology (ALON)? http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123012131

It looks like it could potentially have some good uses in the high performance arena. I can just imagine popping the hood and seeing a bunch of clear parts. Watching the fuel spray into the intake manifold would be fun.

What do you think?

Bigblue73

12-21-2005, 08:00 AM

No No No....this is a coating, like a polyimide (looks like water) that is applied over glass. This make the glass "more" bullet resistant. The polishing or "buffing" as it's called in the trade is using a static charge to remove, flatten and align the ions of the coating, then applying another layer, and buffing it 90 degrees to the last, creating layers that bond. Just like laying carbon fiber. We used titanium dioxide on a few military instruments for destructive purpose to aid in the fracture resistance of the plastic displays we used for fighter helmets. It's some cool stuff.

As far as seeing the gas.....I think seeing the backfire would be better! Some things are best left unseen.

Tony

Jewce

12-21-2005, 08:41 AM

Didn't they make hump back whale tanks out of that stuff in one of the Star Trek movies?

TonyL

12-21-2005, 08:59 AM

Didn't they make hump back whale tanks out of that stuff in one of the Star Trek movies?

Yes they did. lol. first thing I thought of. Guess that makes us geeks huh?

/trek rulez!!!!111!!!1ONE!!1

stealth71

12-21-2005, 09:18 AM

Tony-

To me it sounded like it was the "glass". You're saying they still use a layer of "glass" but lay layers of the ALON on top. I guess this eliminates possibilities of creating the invisible block. Damn I was getting excited. Can you give us any more information? I understand it all cannot be revealed but a little more explanation might help.

Thanks

Steve1968LS2

12-21-2005, 09:21 AM

Yes they did. lol. first thing I thought of. Guess that makes us geeks huh?

/trek rulez!!!!111!!!1ONE!!1

Me too.. :(

It was Star Trek 4.. The Voyage Home.. largest grossing of the 6 Star Trek movies..

<- uber geek..

TonyL

12-21-2005, 09:33 AM

"Computer?!!"

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

/ok, I'll stop.

trapin

12-21-2005, 09:47 AM

Great movie. I liked Spocks use of "colorful methaphors" in that one.

Flyboy

12-21-2005, 09:54 AM

We used titanium dioxide on a few military instruments for destructive purpose to aid in the fracture resistance of the plastic displays we used for fighter helmets. It's some cool stuff.

Tony, are you talking about the displays on the JHMCS helmets? I got a chance to "play" with a couple of those when they were initially installed on the 422nd jets at Nellis when I was still in. Those are definetely some cool "toys". :ssst:

CarlC

12-21-2005, 10:40 AM

Refill the Romulan gas tank with nuclear radiation, "invent" transparent aluminum, and save Checkov (sp?) from the butchers, all while time-travelling to save the earth from a giant black Tylenol that's waiting for whale sounds.

I am a geek.

J-Rod

12-21-2005, 10:41 AM

Didn't they make hump back whale tanks out of that stuff in one of the Star Trek movies?

Ahem......

They traded the formula for transparent aluminum for huge sheets of plexi to bring the whales back.

coughNERDALERTcough

:)

Steve1968LS2

12-21-2005, 10:46 AM

TitoJones

12-21-2005, 11:32 AM

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!
I didn't think anyone one else would thing Star Trek but me!! I love the talking into the mouse gag! I am in tears here!

Tyler

USAZR1

12-21-2005, 12:30 PM

I'm guilty,too. First thing I thought of was that Star Trek movie. :icon996:

Kenova

12-21-2005, 01:31 PM

Didn't they make hump back whale tanks out of that stuff in one of the Star Trek movies?
:lmao:
"Actually, I'm from Iowa. I work in space. "
Did I get it right? I think we can safely say this thread has been highjacked.
Ken

TonyL

12-21-2005, 01:34 PM

I think we can safely say this thread has been highjacked
Naw. he said "transparent aluminium." this was BOUND to happen.. lol.

Flyboy

12-21-2005, 03:10 PM

I love it when they land in the park right after they time jump and they land the cloaked ship on the can while the garbage guys are there. They see the ramp start coming down and they bug out. :lmao:

<-----just as big of a geek

protour_chevelle

12-21-2005, 03:53 PM

Ahhhh skeet skeet!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

-Matt

TonyL

12-21-2005, 03:57 PM

ok. where did those pics come from?

never seen that before

protour_chevelle

12-21-2005, 04:48 PM

ok. where did those pics come from?

never seen that before

It's my dads car. :getout: Actually they have been on the net for a good 6 months. The exact same topic came up on a board that I frequent. I do not believe these are of the transparent Aluminum nature... But freaking cool regardless.

-Matt

TonyL

12-21-2005, 04:53 PM

they are cool, in a "ive never seen anything like that before" way.

i wonder if they are hoaxes? or if they are real?

hotrod

12-21-2005, 07:03 PM

You guys aren't geeks! Your just a bunch of OLD TIMERS! :angel:

Bill Howell

12-21-2005, 07:08 PM

You guys aren't geeks! Your just a bunch of OLD TIMERS! :angel:
No Chris, they are geeks. Not all us old timers were into the sci-fi thing, just the geeks.lol

BTW stealth71, this is a certainly a highjack of your thread. I noticed you are new with not many posts, sorry, we don't do this often. :cheers:

hotrod

12-21-2005, 07:13 PM

Ralph LoGrasso

12-21-2005, 07:49 PM

Ahhhh skeet skeet!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

-Matt

Whoa! That is pretty cool...

protour_chevelle

12-21-2005, 08:45 PM

They're real too btw. I wish I could dig up the original link to them.

-Matt

stealth71

12-22-2005, 06:37 AM

Well now I found this: http://www.surmet.com/docs/Processing_ALON.pdf and to me it looks like this is a glass replacement. That means parts might be possible.

JoshStratton

12-22-2005, 07:23 AM

Ahem......

They traded the formula for transparent aluminum for huge sheets of plexi to bring the whales back.

coughNERDALERTcough

:)

LOL I think he wins :worship:

Bigblue73

12-22-2005, 07:25 AM

I retract my last statement. The information your just posted looks like it can be molded and press using a sintered PM process. The grinding and polishing process to be "Optically Clear" (meaning no waves) sure sounds like a trick. It's an extremely difficult process to manage. 15 years ago, when I was engineering displays for military applications, coatings where the best thing our there, which is where I base my experience upon. Obviously technology has past me by and then some. Can you find any chemical compatability information on this stuff?

By the way.....Are those wheels real?

Tony

Todds69

12-22-2005, 02:57 PM

Captain's Log....Stardate 12.22.05....Here at the Pro-Touring sight we encounter brave new Gearheads, who go where no Gearhead has gone before.....A Star Trek Convention?

JoshStratton

12-22-2005, 03:01 PM

Lets dress up like Klingguys and Capitan Kurt and go to a convention.

Y-TRY

12-22-2005, 03:17 PM

Yes they did. lol. first thing I thought of. Guess that makes us geeks huh?

/trek rulez!!!!111!!!1ONE!!1

I totally thought of that scene, too! Scotty negotiates a deal by sharing the info on clear aluminum alloy. We must be geeks.

CarlC

12-22-2005, 04:06 PM

.......and then there's the old joke: What do the Starship Enterprise and toilet paper have in common?

Bill Howell

12-22-2005, 04:10 PM

HEh HEh. Hey Bill I was sitting next to you at the dinner in LAs Vegas. Do you remember the guy that was sitting next to me? Two seats to your left. I'm trying to reach him about a '59 Elky he said he was looking for but I can't remember his name. (old age)

I do not remember. I will get Larry to look through the pictures and see if he knows the guy. Brian, if you see this post, can you look thru your pictures, and see if you can post up a picture of our table at the dinner. Maybe someone else will know the guy.

toxicz28

12-22-2005, 04:47 PM

.......and then there's the old joke: What do the Starship Enterprise and toilet paper have in common?

They both travel around Uranus searching for Klingons!!!

protour_chevelle

12-22-2005, 06:07 PM

They both travel around Uranus searching for Klingons!!!

This thread is hilarious. Inside interests are sure coming out :drive2:

-Matt

Kenova

12-22-2005, 06:18 PM

Well now I found this: http://www.surmet.com/docs/Processing_ALON.pdf and to me it looks like this is a glass replacement. That means parts might be possible.
:hmm: Well, it's made of aluminum, and it's transparent, so I guess that makes it the real thing. First the comunicators, now transparent aluminum. Can't wait for the phasers.
All kidding aside, this stuff may have possiblities other than fish tanks.
Ken

CarlC

12-22-2005, 07:45 PM

Maybe they use transparent aluminum to hold up Shatner's wig.

gEtyOpAPiOn

12-22-2005, 09:57 PM

hmmmm who will have the first transparent lsx engine ? lol

Jim Nilsen

12-23-2005, 08:43 AM

Wow look at those wheels!!!! That car looks like it is floating on air !!!! There is nothing there. OOOh it's that new Transparent aluminum, Wow.

Those wheels look so cool but they don't flow much air through them even though they look like the air could be totally going through. It is going to be interesting what will come of this stuff but I think it is going to change everything as the cost goes down.

Jim Nilsen

CAMAROBOY69

12-23-2005, 08:52 AM

Ahhhh skeet skeet!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

-Matt
Whoa! Those wheels reminds me of the Nike Concept car in Gran turismo 4. Awesome!!! That Nissan Z looks sick with those. :)
Here is the Nike Concept car.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img433.imageshack.us/my.php?image=nikeone0910245iy.jpg)https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img433.imageshack.us/my.php?image=nikeone1010241op.jpg)