My Current Ideas/Issues/Projects
- Are my components too old? Or too "Powedery"?! It has been brought to my attention that the raw materials I have been using are old -- like from the 70's 80's 90's. Sure that's not old for people, but for pure metal powders -- that's ancient. We believe that these powders have oxidized, even before I create my pellets! I am in need of a new supply. Will it be better if I avoid powders and instead use bb sized chunks of metal?
- Titanium - my Arch Nemesis! This metal, as I have learned, is extremely reactive and when oxidized can be explosive. I am working to reduce the danger of melting samples containing this hazard.
- I have started working with the head of the metal casting at the foundry on Alfred University campus to make Cu Brass or Mn Bronze casting molds to do Artistic pours of the Bulk Metallic Glasses - I believe this grants me the opportunity to write a paper on the mold-BMG interactions if we succeed. So far we are planning on melting Steel (most likely higher carbon content again to utilize the confusion principle) with their induction furnace in graphite crucibles, then pouring into the casting molds. I have posted questions on MetallicGlassGrad.Blogspot.com about your opinions.
- We Have NO FUNDING! This is not a problem I am personally addressing, but it is difficult to continue research without funding!
