Could A New Steel Mean Stronger Lighter And Cheaper Tools?

Think scientists have all the answers? Think again. Self-taught metallurgist Gary Cola from Detroit has amazed scientists with his new heat-treating process that makes ordinary steel stronger and more shock absorbent then the most common titanium alloys used in the industry. Cola claimed his new Flash Bainite steel was 7 percent stronger then martensitic advanced high-strength steel, and at the same time could be thinned and lengthened 30 percent more. Cola's claims were then verified by Suresh Babu of Ohio State University.

The process to make Flash Bainite is as simple as quickly sending sheets of steel through 1100 degree Celsius flames, then cooling them with a liquid bath. The entire process takes less then 10 seconds. Previous heat-treating metheds required steel to be heated for a few hours, or as long as days.

So when will we start to see new lighter weight, stronger, and cheaper tools? Because the process can be done so quickly, there is less time and energy used, which means costs saving will be passed on to everyone. Let us not forget that regular old cheap steel is used, and thus another costs savings. While the metal itself is not light weight, the fact that it is stronger means manufacturers can use less of it.

Could this be the end of titanium hammers? Could this mean that even the cheap hand tools from China will be stronger then many titanium alloys? Lighter table saws, miter saws, drills, hand tools? Manufactures need to get a move on this.

Via Science Daily