Re: Can aluminum be hardened?

From: Uncle Al (UncleAl0_at_hate.spam.net)
Date: 01/21/05 

Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 09:10:37 -0800

Ken wrote:
>
> I have a ruler made from thin (.02") stainless steel. I'm wondering if I
> can get the same stiffness and springiness from aluminum ***. I don't
> mind increasing the thickness, but I don't want to increase the overall
> weight. Are there types of aluminum that have the same qualities as
> hardened steel?

You won't get hardened or drawn spring steel in aluminum. Not
nearly. Intermetallics (NiAl, TiAl) might be interesting but they are
generally expensive by components and hard to work after forming.

Aluminum/scandium for Russian missile skins and baseball bats.
Aluminum/copper for Wright brothers' airplane engine.
NiAl for Reagan's China Clipper (needs a percent of copper or so to
ease brittleness; fabricate near-net by solid flame of powdered
compacted components). 

-- 
Uncle Al
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 (Toxic URL! Unsafe for children and most mammals)
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