Somebody call perfesser jenius Rosey!
Posted on 06/20/2007 6:49:10 PM PDT by nypokerface
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., June 20 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists have created stainless steel alloys designed to allow increased operating temperatures and efficiency in energy production systems.
The new alloys developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory are said to offer superior oxidation resistance compared with conventional stainless steels, without significant increased cost or decreased resistance to creep -- sagging at high temperature.
But U.S. Energy Department scientists said what really sets the proprietary material apart from other stainless steels is its ability to form protective aluminum oxide scales instead of chromium oxide scales.
The combination of creep and oxidation resistance offered by the new alloys previously was available only with nickel-base alloys, which are about five times more costly than the new stainless steels.
The material, which also has potential applications in high-temperature chemical and process industry applications, was reported in the journal Science.
Will this save Ronco from bankruptcy by the introduction of a new Ginsu Knife? :)
Transparent ginsu knife set, only 3 easy payments of 13.33.
Myself, I’ll stick with Sandvik 12C27.
You can say that again...
How 'bout welding the stuff? TIG? sigh...
If it could better resist undesirable oxidation, be cut or worked a little easier, AND be welded with a buzz-box stick welder, that would be a perfect trifecta.
I give up. ...stand better chances going out and buying lottery tickets...
Bang times five !!
Ayn Rand proved right again!
“Why do the American steel producers still think they can compete with the Koreans, Japanese, Chinese and Russian...”
Because they’re pricipally competing against the EPA and vociferous “Green” congresscritters...
Somebody call perfesser jenius Rosey!
Who is Ayn Rand ?
I've been to steel mills in the US, South Korea, and China.
In China, you have hundreds of people earning $0.25/hour doing the work. The floor crawls with people.
In South Korea, you have 1/50th the people, sitting in overhead control rooms operating kilns and blast furnaces remotely, making $10/hour.
In the US, you have hundreds of people earning $30/hour (once benefits are factored in) all over the floor.
The reason for the US situation? I was told by management it was because the unions eliminated the chance for layoffs or modernization to replace workers.
The shift workers on the floor in the US were proud there were as many employees per kiln as there were 50 years ago, and all the jobs were saved...
Thank you! I haven't laughed all day. Perfect.
I’m reading it again right now.
UMMM... I believe the word is UNIONS!
Since China has purchased all of our scrap metal...will we be able to make this stuff?
Maybe I’m silly to worry, but I think of all of the metal drives we had during WWII...I don’t like sending them our “edge.”
I grew up in Pittsburgh, was there in the 70s and 80s and graduated from Pitt. I was there during the big collapse (implosion) of the steel industry. My take on it: unions killed the US Steel industry plain and simple.
After high school I could've gone to work in the mills. Instead I went to college. 4 years later when I graduated, I started out making less money than I would've been making if I had 4 years experience at union pay scales. I'm not sure that I have ever really caught up - if you factor in benefits, automatic pay increases, vacation, etc.
The unions had a strangle hold on the companies. Tremendous starting hourly rates, vacations, benefits packages, raises. The unions were really trying to in-effect run the companies. You couldn't base pay on performance (or lack thereof), you couldn't hire (non-union) or fire/lay-off. Couldn't change someone's job without a renegotiation, etc. etc.
So yeah, they had a strangle hold on the companies, and were running them, at least the labor side of them. Unfortunately the union "leadership" was short-sighted and power hungry. They ended up strangling the companies and running them right into the ground. I can remember the glow of the big furnaces at night from J&L, US Steel, and others. Now that area is waterfront retail and upscale apartments if I remember correctly.
Don't get me wrong - I'm all for protecting the worker, fair pay for fair work, not letting the company take advantage of anyone etc. But what the workers really had was the union taking advantage of them, using them as leverage to get money/power from the companies. In the end, it would've been far better to be employed at $10/hr rather than unemployed at $20/hr.
I was being sarcastic. She’s not that obscure a figure.
Sounds like you must have a good grip on the auto industry collapse in MI as well.
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