Re: 1teraflops cell processor possible?

In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Russell Wallace) writes:
|> On 28 Nov 2003 01:17:59 -0800, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (George William
|> Herbert) wrote:
|> 
|> >Water immersion generally voids the warranty on most aerospace
|> >alloys.  Jets that skid off the runway into the ocean, even if they
|> >just get lightly soaked, are junked.  Same thing with capsules.
|> >Stainless steel may not be so subject to it, and Titanium isn't so 
|> >bad, but most capsule structures are aluminum.
|> 
|> I thought aluminium was rustproof, and that this was the reason for
|> using it on some modern warships (despite the disadvantage that it
|> catches fire if it gets hot enough), are you saying this is not the
|> case?

Aluminium forms a thin skin of alumina (the oxide) when exposed
to oxygen, or oxygen and water, and thus is rustproof in fresh
water.  However, it is VERY badly attacked by salt water, and
sailing boats etc. that use aluminium spars protect them by
anodisation (however that works).  Even with that protection,
which may or may not be application to aircraft, one of its normal
failure modes is through corrosion.

So the rough answer is "not in salt water, it isn't".


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.