As if titanium tubing and exotic-alloy farings weren’t enough, now the Air Force is getting all Gucci on us and fashioning airplane parts out of jewelry…sort of.
From Aviation Week:
Researchers at the University of Dayton in Ohio are preparing an Air Force report showing the corrosion-protection potential that results from prodding oysters to produce pearl-like coatings on metals. Senior research scientist Doug Hansen says his team has manipulated oyster blood cells, prompting them to deposit nacre, a natural calcium carbonate ceramic, onto aluminum, titanium and stainless-steel alloys. The deposits are fracture resistant and, as coatings, they can last a lifetime, he says. The work is funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.
I guess if this happens, Air Force maintenance managers are going to have to regularly case the local pawn shops for the flashy pearl-coated parts.
(Gouge: NC)
– Christian
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Eh, they would be painted MIL-SPEC grey or blue.
You know what doesn’t rust? GOLD. They should issue gold-plated AKs and M-16s. Straight pimping, yo.
Reminds me of General Patton’s comment when correspondents mis-identified his ivory-handled pistol as having pearl handles.
No one but a pimp uses a pearl-handled gun, he said.
Hmm. I can just see the redesigned flight suits to go with the pearl coated aircraft.
On the other hand, why not just bypass pearl and gold and go for diamond film coating? Not only would it eliminate corrosion problems, it would eliminate wear as well.
I want to see one of those fighter jocks take their helmet off and put on a purple fadora(sp?)hat.
Then they can hop into the government provided Suburban rollin on the spinner 22s.
We need spinners and hydraulics on our Abrams. Al Quaeda will surrender ‘cuz they know otherwise we’ll pimp-slap them. “Where’s my money, bitch? Where’s my money?”
And we used to joke about the “gold plated hammers!”
Pearl plated planes! aaarrrrgggghhhhh.
I wonder if this oyster byproduct would make these fall under US Fish and Wildlife regulations should the parts ever end up surplus on the civilian market? Regulating shells is a joke anyway, except perhaps in the case of the queen conch shell. Plus, it is easy money for the FWS at $55 per shipment declaration, plus licensing fees for importers / exporters. Just another product that they can strong arm and seize.
Well, I was wondering what the EA-6b drivers would accessorize with in their next incarnation. Now I guess we know.
Come on all jokes aside this is a valid tool for reducing the wear on aircraft parts.
“Come on all jokes aside this is a valid tool for reducing the wear on aircraft parts.”
Yeah,we know. It’s just do damn *weird*
On the other hand, why not just bypass pearl and gold and go for diamond film coating? Not only would it eliminate corrosion problems, it would eliminate wear as well.
But you couldn’t park or leave any aircraft parts anywhere near the hood…
Im still waiting for the time when lasers are commonplace and the military starts covering all gear with a full coat of mirror paint.
BLING!
My wedding ring is machined aircraft titanium with a coating of industrial diamond. So it can be done albeit at jewelry prices. So the diamond film is a viable proposition.
Next thing you know the oysters will be on MTV.
Iron Oyster Cult?
Pearl Jelly?
Hummm…
Sound like an expensive form of Ceramic Coating….
I am unsure how this is easier than just putting exotic material in ceramic coating.
If you are unfamiliar with Ceramic coating, you can put a positive charge on metal, and then spray the coating onto the metal which it adheres to.
Then “Bake” for a couple hours and the stuff is corrosion resistant and extremely durable.
If you have watched “American Chopper” or any of the automotive shows, it is a common technology…..
Great, we get some out of the box thinking and all people can do is make jokes and criticize. This method ( from what I have read,) requires no special materials, no sophisticated machinery, is low cost and uses nothing but environmentally friendly chemicals, what’s not to like?
Takeo, I think it’s awesome. Enough to pimp-slap a GAO regulator, in fact. :)
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