Fed up with AS5 as a thermal paste? Try mercury.....

[Rave]

http://www.frostytech.com/permalink.cfm?NewsID=46586



How dangerous is that? I hope nobody gets ill as a result of handling the stuff.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(element)

[BUFF]

I doubt that they would be able to sell it to the public if it contains mercury.
Did you see the palaver when somebody broke a thermometer in their house recently?

[Rave]

The only thing that causes aluminium to disintegrate like that AFAIK is mercury. That's why you can't take it on aeroplanes- if it spilled and leaked out onto the body it would literally eat a hole right through the plane. Aluminium is extremely reactive with oxygen- but it quickly forms a layer of alumium oxide on the surface which protects the metal underneath. The mercury takes off the protective layer, so the aluminium just keeps on oxidising.

Also, do you know any other metals that are liquid at room temperature? I'm pretty sure someone is making a quick buck by flogging people mercury and claiming that it's some revolutionary thermal paste....which obviously is highly dangerous.....

[da_ging]

was a thread about this stuff on here a while ago im sure?

general concensus was it contained some metals that started with the letter G if remember right, but not mercury

[BUFF]

Originally Posted by Rave

Also, do you know any other metals that are liquid at room temperature?

Gallium, caesium - possibly indium and rubidium.

[Rave]

Originally Posted by BUFF

Gallium, caesium - possibly indium and rubidium.

Indium melts at 160C according to the wikipedia. It's not rubidium or sodium, which only leaves leaves Gallium as a contender. Gallium forms a eutectic alloy with aluminium but doesn't cause it to become rapidly oxidised.

Edit: Hmm, the company that make it reckon it's not mercury and that it's non-toxic. I suppose it's probably a Gallium alloy, but the reaction with aluminium looks very dodgy to me:.

[BUFF]

Originally Posted by Rave

Indium melts at 160C according to the wikipedia.

Doesn't have to be pure Indium - an alloy of 24% indium and 76% gallium is a liquid at room temperature.
http://www.indium.com/products/fusiblealloys.php

[Stoo]

Originally Posted by BUFF

Doesn't have to be pure Indium - an alloy of 24% indium and 76% gallium is a liquid at room temperature.
http://www.indium.com/products/fusiblealloys.php

But that wouldn't react with aluminium in the same way would it?

[Swafe]

Ceasium goes bang Doubt itll be that

[tim_n]

pfff. I prefer thermite for my metal melting needs. Mercury is the lazy mans option!

[Lee @ SCAN]

Originally Posted by Swafe

Ceasium goes bang

You trying out for Barry's job aren't you

Caesium + water = Bang..... and the water, bowl and tables gone.

[[GSV]Trig]

Where can I get ceasium?

[TheAnimus]

am i the only one worried that some fool flushed that down the regular drain?

[Moby-Dick]

There are alloys that could be used - think of the alloys used in dental fillings which can flow like a paste.

its certinaly not pure mercury due to its flow properties , you'd never get it to loose surface tension like that normally ( think of all of those mercury mazes ! )

[camalbitboy]

Originally Posted by Moby-Dick

There are alloys that could be used - think of the alloys used in dental fillings which can flow like a paste.

its certinaly not pure mercury due to its flow properties , you'd never get it to loose surface tension like that normally ( think of all of those mercury mazes ! )

They still used mercury amalgums in dentistry until recently. Due to the way it was bonded there was no risk to health whilst alive, but an allotment near to a crematorium in Brighton was found to have over 10 times the EU limit in mercury in its soil due to all the very toxic mercury vapours from the cerematorium.

[jamena]

Originally Posted by Stoo

But that wouldn't react with aluminium in the same way would it?

it would actually...
http://www.scitoys.com/scitoys/scito...uid_metal.html
see near the bottom of the page where it eats through some Al foil.