# Transparent Aluminum, baby! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 20, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134 "2005-10-20T20:17:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134/21 "2005-10-21T11:55:55Z")
So, beyond military use, what are the applications? Replacing windows in buildings in hurricance zones? Thinner holding tanks at Sea World? Is it cheaper to make than glass? ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134/22 "2005-10-21T12:13:44Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > A bulletproof aluminum foil hat! A _transparent_ bulletproof aluminum foil hat! In fact, I’m wearing mine right now! You can tell it’s transparent, 'cause you can’t see it. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134/23 "2005-10-21T12:32:53Z")
You know, not to rain on your parade too much, but this is an aluminum _compound_ that’s transparent, and we already have lots of those, most notably ruby, corundum, sapphire (all variations on aluminum oxide) and YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet). This one is a new aluminum compound, with new and interesting properties, but calling it “transparent aluminum” is like calling window glass “transparent silicon”. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134/24 "2005-10-21T16:25:02Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > This one is a new aluminum compound, with new and interesting properties, but calling it “transparent aluminum” is like calling window glass “transparent silicon”. I actually did notice that. But _must_ you rain on our parade??? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134/25 "2005-10-21T16:40:15Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > You know, not to rain on your parade too much, but this is an aluminum _compound_ that’s transparent, and we already have lots of those, most notably ruby, corundum, sapphire (all variations on aluminum oxide) and YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet). This one is a new aluminum compound, with new and interesting properties, but calling it “transparent aluminum” is like calling window glass “transparent silicon”. You, you…_Vulcan_! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134/26 "2005-10-21T17:18:35Z")
You know my Dell Trinitron P780 monitor uses “transparent silicon” for its cathode-ray tube. My Eye glasses are treated “transparent silicon” to be scratch resistance. I just felt like using this wonderful new phrase than can go along with “transparent aluminum” Thank You Cal 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134/27 "2005-10-21T17:40:55Z")
**Transparent Aluminum baby!** Now THAT would be REALLY cool. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134/28 "2005-10-21T18:03:13Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > [It’s here! (Almost. Still being tested.)](http://www.livescience.com/technology/051018_new_glass.html) > > Once again, did science inspire Star Trek, or did Star Trek inspire science? > > Hee hee hee…I’m waiting for transporters so I don’t have to drive to work anymore. Oh, and replicators. Transporters? I’m hoping for a replicant of myself so I don’t even have to be at work. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134/29 "2005-10-21T18:44:17Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > Transporters? I’m hoping for a replicant of myself so I don’t even have to be at work. yeah but then you run into the replicant having issues with being at work - so it makes a replicant of itself, and so on and so on til eventually there are 6 or 7 of you running around and each one is just a little “less” (of whatever) - and all the last one wants to do is watch Wapner 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134/30 "2005-10-21T19:00:14Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > A bulletproof aluminum foil hat! I’m sure the Cubans, in conjunction with the mafia and CIA, are already working on aluminum-foil hat piercing ammunition. Neither article mentioned nanotechology, before reading the links, I would’ve bet transparent aluminum come from an NT lab. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134/31 "2005-10-21T23:48:15Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > So, beyond military use, what are the applications? Replacing windows in buildings in hurricance zones? Thinner holding tanks at Sea World? Is it cheaper to make than glass? I think it’s about $1,500/ft[sup]2[/sup], so it ain’t cheap. However, if they can get the cost down, I can foresee a _lot_ of uses for it. Cockpit glass in airplanes, after all, the only thing worse than sucking a bird into your engines is having it smack the windscreen at 400+ MPH. :eek: Again, if it becomes cheap enough, I can see it being used in automotive windows, since it’ll be less likely to break when it gets whacked by a rock. NASA’ll probably want to look at it for use in the CEV as well. It’s too bad [Philip Johnson](http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Johnson_House.html) isn’t still with us, he’d love the stuff, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134/32 "2005-10-22T00:39:25Z")
When they launch James Doohan’s ashes into space, they’d better be in a container made of this stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134/33 "2005-10-22T00:46:53Z")
> [@drewbert](#): > > When they launch James Doohan’s ashes into space, they’d better be in a container made of this stuff. Ya know, that’s a damn skippy idea, especially if the container looks like [this](http://jamesdoohan.com:8080/). Be nice if there was some way to contact his estate, I’d certainly be willing to kick in a few bucks to help make it happen, and I’m sure other [del]uberdorks[/del] fans would be as well. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134/34 "2005-10-22T07:35:07Z")
Excuse me, I’m looking for the nuclear wessels ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134/35 "2005-10-22T07:51:43Z")
What, nobody’s going to comment on the article linked at the bottom of the page? [Military Mulls Use of ‘Star Trek’ Weapons](http://www.livescience.com/technology/ap_050713_phasers.html) > [@](#): > > For years, the U.S. military has explored a new kind of firepower that is instantaneous, precise and virtually inexhaustible: beams of electromagnetic energy. "Directed-energy’’ pulses can be throttled up or down depending on the situation, much like the phasers on "Star Trek’’ could be set to kill or merely stun. Hey, I’m for anything they want to cook up for us – so long as those little skirts and knee-boots come back into fashion. Woot! ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134/36 "2005-10-22T08:10:56Z")
I was going to comment on that, but didn’t want to double post. I did post it in my journal though. And, damn pansies. Who needs a phasor set to stun? That’s what God made Vulcans for. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134/37 "2005-10-22T14:59:21Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > What, nobody’s going to comment on the article linked at the bottom of the page? > > [Military Mulls Use of ‘Star Trek’ Weapons](http://www.livescience.com/technology/ap_050713_phasers.html)Hey, I’m for anything they want to cook up for us – so long as those little skirts and knee-boots come back into fashion. Woot! That sounds like a bad idea, to me. Our guys will suddenly _stop_ being crack shots and the enemy will be able to easily dodge the beam fired at them. Plus anyone with a red shirt will have a life expectancy measured in nanoseconds. (Though the skirts’ll be nice, however.) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134/38 "2005-10-22T15:31:39Z")
Speaking of transparent silicon, I’d remind us all that you can also find or make transparent CARBON. Carbon for Og’s sake, the very quintessence of oaque blackness can now be made transparent. I even have a small sample of the natural stuff that I almost always carry around with me. So does my wife. Transparent Carbon… Gosh, what’ll they come up with next?? ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134/39 "2005-10-22T15:54:25Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Speaking of transparent silicon, I’d remind us all that you can also find or make transparent CARBON. Carbon for Og’s sake, the very quintessence of oaque blackness can now be made transparent. > > I even have a small sample of the natural stuff that I almost always carry around with me. So does my wife. > > Transparent Carbon… Gosh, what’ll they come up with next?? yes - but can you make panels of it big enough\* to hold hundreds of gallons of water plus two soon-to-be-extinct humpback whales? - for the cost of some 23rd C technology ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134/40 "2005-10-22T16:38:35Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > What, nobody’s going to comment on the article linked at the bottom of the page? > > [Military Mulls Use of ‘Star Trek’ Weapons](http://www.livescience.com/technology/ap_050713_phasers.html) Oooohhhhh. Excuse me, I’m a bit lightheaded. I need to sit down before I swoon. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transparent-aluminum-baby/327134.md?page=3)