Hi, everyone. I haven’t been on this site for a long time. In the last few years, my life’s taken an interesting detour with many perks I felt enticed to explore along the way. I still love my ZDP-189 and S2 kitchen knives. And I still cherish my M390 SOCOM Alpha Mini Warcom. So all in all, my interest in knives still hasn’t waned.
The reason that brings me to this site today is an interesting recent article about an experimental material known as ‘transparent aluminum’ - much like the fictitious material in the movie Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home - except transparent aluminum isn’t fictitious anymore. It’s become a reality.
Transparent Aluminum is formally known as Aluminum Oxynitride, aka ALON.
Here are some fast hard facts:
ALON is a ceramic, not an alloy.
ALON is insanely tough, and unlike ordinary ceramics, it will not shatter.
ALON plate of thickness 1.6” (4.1mm) can stop a .50 BMG round. That’s tough!
ALON is extremely hard. Almost as hard as a sapphire (9.0 on Mohs scale)
ALON is transparent in the UV, visible, and infrared spectra.
(i.e. It looks like a very clear glass, except it isn’t a glass at all.)
ALON is significantly lighter than M390 steel alloy.
ALON: 3.7 g/cm^3
M390: 7.54 g/cm^3
ALON exhibits excellent resistance to corrosion in water, acid/base, salt, heat, etc.
ALON is currently in development for applications as lightweight body armor and deep submersible windows. Now I know what you crazy knife enthusiasts out there are thinking - ALON knives! Unfortunately, Surmet Corporation currently has no plans to develop and manufacture ALONs for applications in blades. But suppose you do have an ALON knife - sharpening the blade would be quite a nightmare, wouldn't it? Even with a diamond sharpening stone...
Alright, discuss away.
The reason that brings me to this site today is an interesting recent article about an experimental material known as ‘transparent aluminum’ - much like the fictitious material in the movie Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home - except transparent aluminum isn’t fictitious anymore. It’s become a reality.
Transparent Aluminum is formally known as Aluminum Oxynitride, aka ALON.
Here are some fast hard facts:
ALON is a ceramic, not an alloy.
ALON is insanely tough, and unlike ordinary ceramics, it will not shatter.
ALON plate of thickness 1.6” (4.1mm) can stop a .50 BMG round. That’s tough!
ALON is extremely hard. Almost as hard as a sapphire (9.0 on Mohs scale)
ALON is transparent in the UV, visible, and infrared spectra.
(i.e. It looks like a very clear glass, except it isn’t a glass at all.)
ALON is significantly lighter than M390 steel alloy.
ALON: 3.7 g/cm^3
M390: 7.54 g/cm^3
ALON exhibits excellent resistance to corrosion in water, acid/base, salt, heat, etc.
ALON is currently in development for applications as lightweight body armor and deep submersible windows. Now I know what you crazy knife enthusiasts out there are thinking - ALON knives! Unfortunately, Surmet Corporation currently has no plans to develop and manufacture ALONs for applications in blades. But suppose you do have an ALON knife - sharpening the blade would be quite a nightmare, wouldn't it? Even with a diamond sharpening stone...
Alright, discuss away.
