New 'Superweapon' Power

[Atheist-Lite]

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/ ... 081011.php

Revolutionary material dramatically increases explosive force of weapons

A revolutionary material that will replace steel in warhead casings will bring added lethality and increase the likelihood of a hit on an enemy target, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) announced August 10.

By combining several metals with standard manufacturing techniques, High-Density Reactive Material (HDRM) has the potential to dramatically increase the explosive impact of most weapons with little or no compromise in strength or design.

Unlike conventional munitions, the innovative materials approach integrates the casing with approved warhead explosives for increased lethality. In addition, the unique design for fragmenting warheads allows release of chemical energy after impact, increasing the probability of a catastrophic kill.

(continued)

[mistermack]

HDRM has the strength of common aluminum alloys yet the density of mild steel, making it an ideal replacement for steel components.

I'm not sure what they mean there. Are aluminium alloys stronger than steel of the same thickness?

[Atheist-Lite]

HDRM has the strength of common aluminum alloys yet the density of mild steel, making it an ideal replacement for steel components.

I'm not sure what they mean there. Are aluminium alloys stronger than steel of the same thickness?

When the main alloy is magnesium its used in pressure vessels and tanks. I guess the alloying element is central?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

HDRM has the strength of common aluminum alloys yet the density of mild steel, making it an ideal replacement for steel components.

I'm not sure what they mean there. Are aluminium alloys stronger than steel of the same thickness?

It's just as strong and has the characteristics of mild steel, is what they're saying. You can store the weapon longer without deterioration and it will weather better than steel. Plus it would be non-ferrous.

The go-bang boys are ecstatic. Or so I'm told.

[mistermack]

HDRM has the strength of common aluminum alloys yet the density of mild steel, making it an ideal replacement for steel components.

I'm not sure what they mean there. Are aluminium alloys stronger than steel of the same thickness?

When the main alloy is magnesium its used in pressure vessels and tanks. I guess the alloying element is central?

I'm not sure that it IS an aluminium alloy. They just say that it has the strength of aluminium alloy.
I would have thought that for the same thickness, steel would have been stronger than an aluminium alloy. But I must be wrong on that, or steel would be better.
The selling point of aluminium alloys was strength/density ratio, I thought, but when you need something of the same density as steel, I can't think what's better than steel.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I've heard it gives +7 to ATT plus an 80% chance of Penetrate Armour. It does make you slightly more chaotic and evil though - if that matters to you.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I've heard it gives +7 to ATT plus an 80% chance of Penetrate Armour. It does make you slightly more chaotic and evil though - if that matters to you.

[Animavore]

So in other science news today I read scientists have discovered a plausible pathway for RNA to form from simple amino acids, a large step in abiogenesis.
And in this story another group discovers a method to increase the potential lethality of an explosive device.
Both stories written with the same sense of achievement, alacrity and excitement.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Meanwhile on the vulcanism front:

Alaskan volcanoes worry scientists.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44097943/ns ... e-science/

Hawaiian volcanoes worry scientists.
http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20 ... nt-kilauea

[Rum]

Just what the world needs, yet another more efficient way of killing each other. We will soon be really good at it.

[Mysturji]

Yay. New improved killing machines.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Just what the world needs, yet another more efficient way of killing each other. We will soon be really good at it.

Malthus II.

[mistermack]

Just what the world needs, yet another more efficient way of killing each other. We will soon be really good at it.

Actually, with the human population approaching 7 billion now, that is what the WORLD needs.
Not what the human race wants though.