Lecture Notes: Atomic Trampoline and Metallic Glass

Introduction

• Sponsored by Opera.
• Discussion based on a video by Steve Mold about an "Atomic trampoline".

Atomic Trampoline Overview

• Initial demonstration with a regular ball bearing dropped from 1.5 feet.
  • Result was unimpressive due to the use of generic stainless steel.
• Introduction of the actual Atomic trampoline, enhanced with a special metal layer.
  • Incredible bouncing effect observed with the ball bearing.

Morphous Metal

• Explanation of the unique properties of Morphous metal or metallic glass.
• Contrast with normal metal:
  • Different compositions lead to varying physical properties (density, elasticity, hardness).
  • Bounciness can be significantly enhanced.

Personal Interest

• Desire to own an Atomic trampoline but found it impossible to purchase one.
• Motivation to create a DIY version despite lacking knowledge about metallic glass production.

Research Process

1. Understanding Metallic Glass Composition

   • Limited information on making a disc specifically; focused on industrial methods for other shapes.
   • Identified various metallic glasses and their properties.

2. Composition of Vito 1

   • Key ingredients: Zirconium, Beryllium, Titanium, Copper, Nickel.
   • Composition percentages sourced from Wikipedia.

3. Safety Concerns with Beryllium

   • Toxicity of Beryllium associated with lung disease (chronic berylliosis).
   • Safety measures:
     • Minimize dust and vapors.
     • Ensure good ventilation and wear a mask.

4. Metal Melting and Molding

   • Need for an air-free environment to melt ingredients without oxidation.
   • Rapid cooling required to form metallic glass.
   • Exploration of using an arc melter, which provides necessary conditions for melting and cooling.

5. Acquisition of Equipment

   • Decision to purchase an arc melter despite high costs ($14,000).
   • Assembly of the arc melter and setup completed successfully.

Initial Testing and Challenges

• First test with iron to familiarize with the equipment.
• Successful melting and observations of oxidation levels.
• Testing of the mold designed for the metallic glass.
  • Initial failures in sucking metal into the mold due to poor design and technique.

Further Experiments and Adjustments

• Continued trials with adjusted techniques led to improved results.
• Successful production of metallic glass blobs.
• Attempted to cast the metallic glass into discs.
  • Faced issues with mold design leading to incomplete or improperly formed discs.

Success and Final Results

• After multiple adjustments and careful measurements, successful production of decent-quality discs.
• Comparison tests using ball bearings demonstrated noticeable bounciness differences.
• Final modifications involved gluing discs to steel bases for better performance.

Conclusion

• Realized the project turned out to be more challenging than anticipated.
• Encouraged interest in metallic glass, with plans for future experiments.
• Mention of future projects including nuclear-powered glow toys.

Additional Information

• Special thanks to supporters on Patreon and YouTube members for enabling project funding.
• Overview of features of the Opera browser, including new updates and tools.

Key Takeaways

• Understanding properties of metallic glass can lead to innovative DIY projects.
• Safety and technique are critical for successful material handling and processing.
• Experimentation and persistence can lead to successful outcomes even after initial failures.