Air Force invents Transparent Aluminum

Yogi · Post by **Yogi** » 2005-10-20 05:34pm

Well, technicaly it's aluminum oxynitride.

Article wrote: The Air Force Research Laboratory's materials and manufacturing directorate is testing aluminum oxynitride -- ALONtm -- as a replacement for the traditional multi-layered glass transparencies now used in existing ground and air armored vehicles.

The test is being done in conjunction with the Army Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md., and University of Dayton Research Institute, Ohio.

...

In a June 2004demonstration, an ALONtm test pieces held up to both a .30 caliber Russian M-44 sniper rifle and a .50 caliber Browning Sniper Rifle with armor piercing bullets. While the bullets pierced the glass samples, the armor withstood the impact with no penetration.

In extensive testing, ALONtm has performed well against multiple hits of .30 caliber armor piercing rounds -- typical of anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant La Monica said. Tests focusing on multiple hits from .50 caliber rounds and improvised explosive devices are in the works.

Links fixed-Bean

Alliance SpecForceTrooper · Post by **Alliance SpecForceTrooper** » 2005-10-20 06:53pm

Hmmm....I wonder if this could have uses for the space program....

Steven Snyder · Post by **Steven Snyder** » 2005-10-20 06:56pm

It is a pity James Doohan didn't get a chance to see it...I think it would have tickled him.

Ender · Post by **Ender** » 2005-10-20 07:56pm

Alliance SpecForceTrooper wrote:Hmmm....I wonder if this could have uses for the space program....

lower mass and greater impact resistance then current viewports? Most certainly.

Steven Snyder · Post by **Steven Snyder** » 2005-10-20 08:02pm

Wouldn't it conduct heat better than glass though? Would that be a re-entry problem?

SyntaxVorlon · Post by **SyntaxVorlon** » 2005-10-20 08:12pm

If they can replace all but a few layers of glass with this on space vehicles it would be insanely useful.

Elfdart · Post by **Elfdart** » 2005-10-20 09:48pm

Now if they can just perfect a golden lasso that makes people tell the truth and bulletproof bracelets!

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2005-10-20 11:03pm

This is very interesting from a materials science perspective, but don't get too excited. This is a transparent aluminum-based ceramic, not an actual transparent aluminum. It would have none of the general properties of a metallic object, and you cannot expect any of the thermophysical properties of metallic aluminum to carry over to this material.

WyrdNyrd · Post by **WyrdNyrd** » 2005-10-21 03:16am

Ugh! Just wait for the Trek-fundies to start screaming "See, Trek predicted this! Without Trek, this would never have happened! Trek is realistic!"

Sigh...

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2005-10-21 07:10am

You know, a German institute made transparent aluminium (okay, alumina actually) years ago and I don't recall much coming of it. Despite the hardness of the material, I'll bet it's pretty difficult to work and pricey next to standard toughened glass you'd get off Pilkington.