[TheForge] metallurgy question

[terry l. ridder]

hello;

i have a metallurgy question.

a camera housing on one of the deep submergence rov needs to be
re-engineered. the housing is subjected to compression and expansion
cycling on every trip it makes. the current housing made of aircraft
aluminium alloy is showing definite stress fractures and microfissures.
the lense assembly is fine. would like to use something other than
indium for the lense seals but they hold up the best.

the current camera housing is a cylinder open on one end for the fused
quartz lens assembly.

the current cameras are being replaced with HD cameras. having a camera
crushed at depth really defeats the purpose of the rov and the HD
cameras.

the camera assemblies are not allowed to free-flood while every
other feature of the deep submergence rov is allowed to free-flood.

not only are the camera housings subjected to extreme pressure but
temperature differentials. Lake Superior is roughly just above freezing
at 1,000 ft. Lake Michigan is approximately the same at 900 ft.

the pressure at 1,000 ft is 459 psia. (pounds per square inch absolute)

would anyone have suggestions for an alloy that would take the
mechanical stress and thermal cycling that the camera housing must
experience?

-- 
terry l. ridder ><>