And yet again, Scotty is proven to be clairvoyant....

Holy cow!!!

That is amazing. The possibilities are endless if they can get the price down.

That is just down-right cool!!!

It would be interesting to see a list of goods that have been invented due to Gene Roddenberry's vision. I know flip-phones were one of the first, eh?? I can't even begin to imagine the cost savings (once the cost is feasible), due to its lighter weight, of something as "every-day" as flight deck glass and windows in the cabin.

So cool !
The second video is watchable btw !
Our government will have the new stuff asap because cost doesn't matter to them :/

I keep telling ya, Star Trek is a documentary.

Maybe Sig will make a transparent P226?

quote:

Originally posted by Muddflap:
I keep telling ya, Star Trek is a documentary.

All Science Fiction is, to an extent. I can't remember the book, but I read a lot of SF in the late 1950's through the mid 1960's, and remember a quote, something like, "Cars still used carburetors when Ley landed on the Moon."

The other interesting coincidence is that the comparable strength/size ratio of TA and standard materials (6" of laminated glass vs 1" of TA), is pretty much what was in the original script. And actually, TA strength exceeds those comparisons. Unless of course, Roddenberry was from the future...

So...let's say a fella had a few extra bucks to invest. Where might one put it?

quote:

Originally posted by Doc H.:
...Unless of course, Roddenberry was from the future...

Tralfamadorian, at least.

I heard of this years ago, and not on Star Trek.
IMO just clickbait right up there with new D B Cooper and Amelia Earhart stories that emerge every few years.
I hope it actually does become a useful thing, but I don't expect it in my lifetime.

quote:

Originally posted by cparktd:
I heard of this years ago, and not on Star Trek.
IMO just clickbait right up there with new D B Cooper and Amelia Earhart stories that emerge every few years.
I hope it actually does become a useful thing, but I don't expect it in my lifetime.

It's actually a product currently being manufactured:

ALON

With several industrial applications.

Physical properties:

Mechanical

Young's modulus 334 GPa

Shear modulus 135 GPa

Poisson ratio 0.24

Knoop hardness 1800 kg/mm2 (0.2 kg load)

Fracture toughness 2.0 MPa·m1/2

Flexural strength 0.38–0.7 GPa

Compressive strength 2.68 GPa

Thermal and optical

Specific heat 0.781 J/(g·°C

Thermal conductivity 12.3 W/(m·°C)

Thermal expansion coefficient ~4.7×10−6/°C

Transparency range 200–5000 nm

ALON also appears to be radiation-resistant and resistant to damage from various acids, bases, and water.

Additionally, transparency to IR presents several interesting possibilities for battlefield hardened optics.



Or should I just punch up "Clear?"

Krieger watches have used it for awhile, haven't they?

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
So...let's say a fella had a few extra bucks to invest. Where might one put it?

US Government Treasury bonds.

Bet America to win, place, or show.

Thats awesome!!!

Do they make Trauma Plates out of ALON yet?

quote:

Originally posted by WaterburyBob:
Do they make Trauma Plates out of ALON yet?

AFRL and ARL currently researching. Limiting factors now are manufacturing scale and cost.

"Hello Computer..."

How about an underwater hull section on a boat.