Re: Lame CEV windows


Henry Spencer wrote:
> In article <1130449970.293064.81190@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
> <hasss@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >Looked it up, Melting point is far too low at around 250 celcius.
> >probably a pretty big no go for reentry. There has got to be somthing
> >better then glass though. Does the shuttle use glass?
>
> Yep. An inner pane of aluminosilicate glass (strong but limited heat
> resistance) as the primary pressure window, a middle pane of fused silica
> (not quite as strong but thermally quite remarkable) as combination backup
> pressure seal and secondary thermal protection, and a fused-silica outer
> pane as primary thermal protection.
>
Could probably use polycarbonate as the inner pane. Lighter, stronger,
cheaper. But it's easily scratched.

> To get better then glass, I think you have to go to exotic things like
> synthetic sapphire, which generally aren't available in big slabs with
> high optical quality. (Some of the orbiter windows are, or were, the
> biggest optical-grade fused-silica windows ever made.)

A few years ago there was a report on metal glass. By forming the metal
around nano particles, which are then dissolved away, a honey-comb
structure is made. With small enough holes (sub wavelength) the
material is transparant.

But it would much, much easier to use retractable cameras.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Lame CEV windows
    ... Does the shuttle use glass? ... An inner pane of aluminosilicate glass (strong but limited heat ... pressure seal and secondary thermal protection, ... biggest optical-grade fused-silica windows ever made.) ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: sealed window replacement needed? (was cordless drill thread)
    ... When insulated glass gets broken, cloudy, or "fogs up" between the panes, ... there is no repair for clouded insulated glass. ... metal windows and doors can usually be disassembled, ... They also have replacement glass available for all their ...
    (alt.home.repair)
  • Re: Fluke 87V - any reason not to buy?
    ... albeit thick glass. ... yesterday at the client I found that one of the engineers had just replaced it on his whole house with dual-pane. ... Our house has a lot more windows and sliders :-( ... Peel the tape, install the tracks. ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Rumors......
    ... old glass being due to flow. ... Windows do get thicker at the bottom. ...
    (rec.motorcycles)
  • Re: Window replacement dilemma -- please help
    ... show the imperfections of glass from that time so to lose that would be ... windows of an appropriate style for the enhanced energy savings. ... He had the whole house gutted so we were able to set up a complete shop in the living room area and since there are 10-ft ceilings and the old sitting parlor and formal living room were connected and took an entire half of the house, was really a quite luxurious shop space... ... I would think a competent glass shop could, although if they're only into modern Al or vinyl one might have to find a good cabinet/millwork shop to get replacement sash made. ...
    (alt.home.repair)
Quantcast