[NewCandle] New prospective matrix material for high temp LENR

[Horace Heffner]

On Dec 28, 2008, at 10:06 AM, Keith Nagel wrote:

> Indeed. I too have wondered whether cermet materials could
> be used for LENR type reactions, or just as novel electrodes
> for hydrogen generation.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cermet
>
> I am not too up on the vanguard of materials science to know where
> the thesis you linked fits in with the field; I gathered from a
> quick scan of the paper that the ductility of the alloy was the
> novelty but there could be more. That kind of dendritic growth
> is common in alloys in general; I've been reading much on  
> ferromagnetic
> alloys and SEM photos often show the familiar frond shaped growths.
> But perhaps a cermet with the metal component forming dendrites
> is new??? Does that account for the ductility?
>
> K.

"The new alloys have a dramatically increased room-temperature  
ductility and a fracture toughness that appears to be similar to the  
toughest steels. Owing to their low modulus, the composites are  
therefore among the toughest known materials, a claim that has  
recently been confirmed independently by a fracture mechanics group."

"...density as low as 4.97 g/cm3. The new low-density composites  
rival the mechanical properties of the best structural crystalline Ti  
alloys. We demonstrate new processing techniques available in the  
highly toughened composites: room temperature cold rolling, work  
hardening, and thermoplastic forming."

This stuff is ideal for the mass production of small airframes, say  
for pilotless vehicles.

Since fracture under high loading has long been noted as an  
impediment to CF, it seems logical to test the stuff. Handily, it  
also contains lighter than Fe elements, meaning energy is potentially  
available from heavy LENR as well as hydrogen fusion.

Best regards,

Horace Heffner
http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/