It'd be like unbreakable glass then. Or would it?
2006-07-31 02:29:48 · 7 answers · asked by Starling 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Well, if there's some virtually unbreakable transparent material to be made, it will probably be done with carbon. Though metals are strong, what's the strongest material? Diamond! And diamonds are transparent (or at least translucent). Why are they so strong? It's becuase of the way the carbon atoms are arranged. They're in the strongest-bonded position. Also, a diamond is one continuous molecule! Industrial diamond (used to make drillbits and such) isn't as pretty as real diamond, but they use it becuase it's strong. Maybe if scientists can invent a cost-effective way to create clear sheets of carbon molecules, we'll have a very strong, virtually unbreakable, see-throughable material. Cool, huh?
As far as metals go, I can't think of any clear metals off the top of my head.
2006-07-31 02:55:37 · answer #1 · answered by M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi. If you own any device that uses an LCD then you already have some transparent metal. The electrodes that connect to the liquid crystal are just very thin so you can see through them. Think about your question. Transparency simply means you can see through it. Or more properly that light passes through without too much disruption. Glass is transparent for a certain distance but you can "see" it. Make it thick enough and you will NOT see through it. Same with water. You can only see so deep in the ocean.
Now, that being said, the idea of transparent aluminum (from the above mentioned Star Trek movie) would be pretty cool. But I think transparent ceramic would be even cooler. And stronger.
2006-07-31 03:02:51 · answer #2 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From a logical point of view, if the metal is transparent, one wouldn't be able to see it. But the following article might help in understanding how one makes something similar to it.
2006-07-31 02:34:28 · answer #3 · answered by michael2003c2003 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so. Metal has (per definition) a large number of free electrons which can absorb all bandwidths of light. Salt crystals can be transparent because their electrons can only exist at specific energy levels and therefore only absorb light of wavelengths corrresponding to the differenses between such energy levels.
2006-07-31 02:49:19 · answer #4 · answered by helene_thygesen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Transparent metal sounds intriguing but I don't think it's possible to mix molecules to create it.
2006-07-31 02:35:31 · answer #5 · answered by Sick Puppy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aren't space helmets coated w/ gold ? I believe our astronauts could see through the coating.
2006-07-31 06:30:59 · answer #6 · answered by tjc 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it was done on Star Trek
2006-07-31 02:35:16 · answer #7 · answered by Cherokee indian 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋