[TheForge] First 'Non-Cuttable' Material in the World: Proteus Could Upgrade Bike Locks, Armor

[jerry Frost]

That's an interesting article Rob, thanks for the link. I don't know how
"Non-cuttable" it is though, it doesn't seem they've tried many cutting
methods. I think, like so many youngsters their heads are stuck in an
abrasive or saw type cutter, box. Not a word about: tensile, compressive,
shear, or impact strength, to name a few. Nuggets in jelly probably wouldn't
hold up so well against a nice set of bolt cutters. 

The vibration damaging an abrasive is pretty well known, think of a grinding
wheel dresser, the wheels are loose on the axle and wobble slightly, the
texture concentrates forces and will eat a grinding wheel in short order.
I've made field expedient wheel dressers with washers on a bolt. 

Another example is trying to cut multiple stacked sheets of sheet metal with
almost any kind of saw.

The ceramic spheres in aluminum matrix being extremely resistant to abrasive
or saw cutting makes perfect sense. 

But NON-cuttable? Anyone out there want to bet they didn't ask a blacksmith
to take a whack at it? 

Just saying, Frosty

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Rob Fertner
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2020 1:56 PM
To: 'Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA'
Subject: [TheForge] First 'Non-Cuttable' Material in the World: Proteus
Could Upgrade Bike Locks, Armor

Here's some interesting metal science news about an aluminum alloy with
imbedded ceramic grains .

 

https://interestingengineering.com/first-non-cuttable-material-in-the-world-
proteus-could-upgrade-bike-locks-armor

 

Things sure have been quiet lately. Hope everyone is staying safe.

 

Rob

Wichita, KS