60/80/20 Aluminum

[RARanney]

Spark,
Did Swat happen to say what the element(s) alloyed with the Al were? Thanks.

 

[7Cain]

I failed to ask that myself , but I am curious! Hope somebody finds out.

 

[RARanney]

Yes, 7Cain, I was looking at some of the exotics used in Aluminum in aerospace. It's very interesting, but I still think you're probably right, that weight aside, Ti will beat Al. A thin strip of Aluminum bends easily, but Titanium just flexes like a spring. This is, I believe, 6061 vs 6al4v. Still, that SWAT bali sounds better all the time.

 

[7Cain]

New info!!! I did some searching and found that the claim to be stronger than Titanium is only compared to "Cast Titanium" and it does'nt even say what grade of "Cast Titanium" they are refering too. Just another marketing ploy! I can guarantee that I'll be getting one or two regardless Still, if anyone can find out what the chemical makup of this Alluminum alloy is I'll do some research and analysis.

 

[Reed]

Alot of Ti is cast because it is harder to machine. Just my 2 cents

 

[7Cain]

Originally posted by Reed
Alot of Ti is cast because it is harder to machine. Just my 2 cents

Again it depends on what you are talking about. Titanium is found in powder form, so it must be manufactured and processed to create the metal that we are all so very fond of. It is the 4th most abundant element on the planet, chances are you have used it in many other products in your life without even knowing that Titanium is in it!

 

[7Cain]

Wouldn't it be funny if the 80% makup was Titanium!!!

 

[Spark]

I don't know the specifics, so I can't comment on just what the alloy is made of, nor what it's exact strengths are. I just relayed what the manufacturer told me.

Kevin

 

[Don Rearic]

To add even more confusion to this, allow me to say with the most certainty that a Novice, hell, not even that, at Metallurgy, can say...

There are two basic types of "cast" Ti as well.

Benchmade uses the "cheaper" way. I don't know about cost difference, let's say the way the 42, 43 and 47's handles are cast, it is weaker than the other way of casting.

The other way is Centrifugal Casting, where the "molds" are spun at a high rate of speed...

What does this do?

Well, for one thing, there will be no voids as you can see in the Latchless BM42 that Chuck has on his site. The one that the individual Customized.

In this manner, the "voids" cannot form as the hot metal [Ti] is spun.

 

[7Cain]

Originally posted by Don Rearic
To add even more confusion to this, allow me to say with the most certainty that a Novice, hell, not even that, at Metallurgy, can say...

There are two basic types of "cast" Ti as well.

Benchmade uses the "cheaper" way. I don't know about cost difference, let's say the way the 42, 43 and 47's handles are cast, it is weaker than the other way of casting.

The other way is Centrifugal Casting, where the "molds" are spun at a high rate of speed...

Very well put Don! I must say that you have more knowledge than even the "novice". There is a major misconception about Titanium as a metal. Most people would think that it is mined like most other metals (taking the ore and melting it down to separate the steel from impurities). Titanium must be manufactured (since it is found in powder form) and "cast" into a the solid stock that is "machined/milled" from (mainly using the 2nd method you refer to [in most instances] but there are many different ways to manufacture Ti)so in a sense all Titanium is "Cast",

 

[Sabo]

Unless the caster is experienced in his craft, he may notice porosity in his castings. Alot has to do with how the mold is gated and vented. However, I am not sure that this is correct for all spun metals / alloys. BTW severe porosity can weaken the structure.

two cents worth on my part!

P.S. Porosity is air that gets trapped in the mold as the molten metal is introduced. This creats tiny air bubbles in the piece. Common occurrance in CSC (Centrifical Spin Casting).

Best regards,