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Subject: Re: Liquid metals for artificial horizons.
From: George Huxtable (george@XXX.XXX)
Date: Mon Apr 01 2002 - 02:52:24 EST
Rodney Myrvaagnes said, about liquid metal for an artificial horizon-
>You could trade the problems of mercury for adifferent set of challenges
>by using NaK, the eutectic alloy of sodium and pottassium,
>which is liqud at room tempereature. It is highly reactive and must be
>kept from the atmosphere, so you horizon would have to have
>an optically flat sealed roof with an inert atmosphere inside.
>
>If you accidentally broke it, you would cause no longterm environmental
>damage. In the short run, the extremely rapid production of
>salts might get you a bad burn, and/or damage something else nearby.
>
>I wouldn't try this at home myself, but if you work in a lab equipped to
>handle such materials you could think about it.
>
>Ha anyone tried making a prismatic horizon that dangles like a damped pendulum?
>
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There exist other alloys, less reactive than Sodium-Potassium. There's a
mix of Gallium-Indium-Tin that's liquid at indoor room temperatures, though
I am not sure how it would fare outside in winter. And I can't say how
poisonous the constituents of that alloy might be. It develops a dullish
tarnish on the surface, so is less bright a reflector than a
recently-cleaned surface of Mercury, but is much lighter in weight. I have
used it for other purposes, but not as a mirror.
For what it's worth...
George Huxtable.
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george@XXX.XXX
George Huxtable, 1 Sandy Lane, Southmoor, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5HX, UK.
Tel. 01865 820222 or (int.) +44 1865 820222.
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