Materials Science Not Without Progress

I just learned, from a posting in rec.arts.books.tolkien (where the
subject of metallurgy comes up on occasion when any new discovery in
metals somewhat resembles the legendary substance "mithril", called
truesilver, corrosion-resistant and beautiful like Platinum, and light
and strong like Beryllium) that Robert Job, who re-invented Wootz and
Damascus steel after thousands of years, produced a super-strong steel
after a failure in making a batch of wootz.

The new material is called Rhondite; but most of what I see on the web
about it are advertisements for its use in jewellery. Of course, it is
so hard not much can be done with it after it is made... but one would
expect it could be formed in its final shape in that case.

In any event, new, stronger materials seem to be very important for
making advanced missiles - and golf clubs.

John Savard

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