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Question:

Is there anyway to strengthen aluminum?

Other than alloys. I'm trying to think of a way I can make an aluminum knife that will hold an edge. One group of researches say they used 60 metric tons of force to realign the molecular structure and give the metal strength equal to steel. I don't have a 60 ton press aha. Would heat treatment plus 10 tons of pressure repeated have a similar affect?

Answer:

No. You would have to use the exact procedure or use alloys.
TRY IT ! DON'T NEED TO ASK .
Aluminum bronze is used commercially to make non-sparking knives. Why try to reinvent the wheel? I'm trying to think of a way I can make an aluminum knife that will hold an edge. You can strengthen aluminum by either cold working or heat treating a suitable alloy, but it will never be anything close to a good steel knife. Would heat treatment plus 10 tons of pressure repeated have a similar affect? No. Assuming that you are talking about the article linked to below: - you would have to duplicate the alloy process, even then you could only make a small thin sheet. They used a heat treatable alloy. The process involves torsional strain under 60 metric tons per square centimeter compression. How big a press do you think you would need for a knife size blank? And remember, you have to apply torsional cold work while compressing it. -Their results ( 1 gPA YS 5% elongation in a very thin sheet) don't look that great compared to a good knife steel. Or a good titanium knife.

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