this post was submitted on 29 Dec 2023
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Technology

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[–] AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world 17 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Would that make it a type of sapphire?

[–] teft@startrek.website 22 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

Types of corundum maybe but I think that’s a stretch. Sapphire is (usually) blue Al2O3. Ruby is red Al2O3. Transparent aluminum is Al2O27N5.

[–] eestileib@sh.itjust.works 10 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Watch faces are often colorless sapphire; I think industrially produced.

[–] teft@startrek.website 15 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Any corundum without trace elements is colorless. Corundum with trace chemical impurities makes the gems we know. Chromium gives the red to rubies, sapphire has iron and titanium, you can get other colors using vanadium or different ratios. Gems are neat.

[–] eestileib@sh.itjust.works 5 points 10 months ago

Ah so my watch branded the face as "sapphire" because it sounded more sellable than "corundum"?

That's a fuck ton of oxygen

[–] conrad82@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

My thoughts too, what makes this alloy so amazing? It seems to me that sapphire is harder, and otherwise similar use cases

No mention/comparison to Sapphire in the article that I could see, disappointing.

Maybe it is the sintering process that makes it interesting, could be easier to shape maybe 🤔

[–] sudoshakes@reddthat.com 2 points 10 months ago

Aluminum oxynitride is transparent aluminum, but alpha aluminum oxide, which is also transparent, is called Corundum.