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Tranparent Aluminum
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Retired but working
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Tranparent Aluminum
While I was at an Aerospace company I did quite a lot of work laying up composites and training people how to do it and I stay pretty much up on the industry.
I thought this would be a hoot for a vette Chassis of the future. I think the Z0's are aluminum now.
Friend of mine who still works in aerospace sent me this and it is pretty cool. Perhaps future Vettes will have a "Transparent" chassis.
Transparent aluminum, which has the unusual ability to conduct electricity as well as transmit visible light, first appeared in the 1980s. Transparent alumina (Al2O3), made using conventional ceramics technology, was developed early in the 21st century.
It is three times stronger than regular aluminum and has caused quite a stir among bloggers with a knowledge of chemistry.
The Air Force is experimenting with ALON tm a Transparent Armor for slow flying transport aircraft. The Army is considering its use for specialized camelion body armour.
So far the is $10 to $15 per square inch, but the price is coming down as technology advances.
When I started with composites they were 75 to 150 dollars a pound and they are down to 5 to 20 a pound depending on how they are laid up and the content (kevlar, fibergalss etc)
Perhaps as clear aluminim is produced the price will drop. Maybe one day it would make a great C5 MOD.
I thought this would be a hoot for a vette Chassis of the future. I think the Z0's are aluminum now.
Friend of mine who still works in aerospace sent me this and it is pretty cool. Perhaps future Vettes will have a "Transparent" chassis.
Transparent aluminum, which has the unusual ability to conduct electricity as well as transmit visible light, first appeared in the 1980s. Transparent alumina (Al2O3), made using conventional ceramics technology, was developed early in the 21st century.
It is three times stronger than regular aluminum and has caused quite a stir among bloggers with a knowledge of chemistry.
The Air Force is experimenting with ALON tm a Transparent Armor for slow flying transport aircraft. The Army is considering its use for specialized camelion body armour.
So far the is $10 to $15 per square inch, but the price is coming down as technology advances.
When I started with composites they were 75 to 150 dollars a pound and they are down to 5 to 20 a pound depending on how they are laid up and the content (kevlar, fibergalss etc)
Perhaps as clear aluminim is produced the price will drop. Maybe one day it would make a great C5 MOD.
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Queens, New York Life begins at 183 mph....
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Might be a great alternative for the heavy glass we use now. Aluminum is very light and strong and doesn't shatter on impact. It would weigh alot less than the current safety glass and could save alot of weight by making windshields where the pillars are part of the windshield. It might make for some great car designs as well.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,401
Likes: 3
From: Retired but working
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Originally Posted by Zilla
Don't let Gary(GB Vette) know about this or this could be one of his future mods
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Los Angeles California
St. Jude Donor '06-'08
I've always thought it would be great if the pop-ups went to non pop-up using a material that would match paint color until the lights were on and then become HIDs without having to pop-up and then with lights off revert back to the hidden headlight look on our C-5s. Coulod be a step in the right direction.
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St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
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Sounds interesting. Especially for the glass parts and the frame.
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Originally Posted by chuck1026
I thought transparent aluminum was something contrived in Star Trek IV?!?
They used it to build aquariums for the whales! 
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From: Southern New Jersey, The wet part at the bottom
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Talking about Glass tecnology. I had since the early 70s when "photo gray" eyeglass lenses came around thought that a great way of "tinting" auto glass. In the bright sunlight the windows would darken and block glare and UV. Yet at night, for safer visability, the windows tint would lessen. This technology isn't expensive and I would opt for it if it was an offered option in glaseing. What's your slant? 
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Castaic California
Originally Posted by filmelf
I've always thought it would be great if the pop-ups went to non pop-up using a material that would match paint color until the lights were on and then become HIDs without having to pop-up and then with lights off revert back to the hidden headlight look on our C-5s. Coulod be a step in the right direction.
