Post by g2m559 on Jul 9, 2023 15:54:56 GMT
For some time, it has been the ambition of nations to successfully tame the wild and sometimes unpredictable chemistry of the plethora of Kolleronics available to the nations of Ancerious. Many ventures to do so were founded, but not all would bear fruit. A key economic distinction between the unaligned and other nations was the ability to successfully engage with Kolleronic chemistry beyond a purely scientific interest; hence the industrial production and utilization of Kolleron and Kolleron derivatives remains as a major economic and scientific distinguishing characteristic. After considerable research, time and effort, a joint project between the Selenicans, Elvorians, and Novish produced what is known as Unmar Steel.
Unmar steel is a high performance alloy, being incredibly durable due to the embedding of purified darkstone into an amorphous alloy representing enormous tensile strength gains per mass when benchmarked against more typical and commonly utilized high tensile strength alloys. Compared to simply using darstone, Unmar steel is considerably easier to work with; the discovery of a Kolleron-compatible, metallic glue - Unmar Solver - proved to further increase the feasibility and useability of this alloy.
The motivation for developing this material is multifold. For the SR, untenable losses in engagements created a strong demand for more potent armor, one that would reduce risk to both crew and ship even in intense engagements against enemy firepower, allowing the Selenical Republic to enjoy greater retention of personnel and military capital after engagements.
The EU’s overhaul of ship doctrine, Project Constellations, required such a material in order to achieve the performance they desired of their craft.
Noviy’s motivation is different - being an emerging nation, it wanted to show the galaxy that despite their position as an emerging market and less established nation, it can be a potent innovator. That, compounded with its ambitions to field superior space vessels made Unmar Steel a national interest.
Noviy intends to secure lucrative trade deals to allow them to export this supermaterial within and outside of the high wilds of the Unmar Expanse.
It’s current and initial pattern is known as M82 Unmar, which is created through the alloying of Carbon, Zirconium, Magnesium, and Titanium into a sheet of amorphous metal, and then carefully embedding of Exodion - Darkstone plasma melange via a particle accelerator into the hot metal sheet.
Unmar Steel is not the only material the joint effort produced however. From the purification process, Depleted Unmar was discovered, as well as Unmar Solver.
Preliminary Studies
Prior to production, these four studies were conducted, led by a team of three scientists:
Dr Yvea Keliras from the Selenican Ministry of Kolleronic Metallurgy,
Dr Hiyo Mariaath from the Abyssal Shipyards, and
Dr Alexi Fischer from the League Academy of Avalon
The studies conducted by the team of three are:
1-
Kolleronic-baryonic alloy characterization and categorization
The physical, mechanical, and chemical properties of Unmar Steel were characterized. Tensile testing, hardness testing, and impact testing were conducted to determine its strength, ductility, and toughness. Techniques such as X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to analyze its microstructure and chemical composition.
Notably, the actual sizes of Unmar Steel samples tested were between 0.3-1.4cm in length and width, with a depth of exactly 0.03mm. It was difficult creating samples that were any larger at this stage, as the power throughput to energize enough Darkstone and purify it to make larger samples was unattainable for the scientist setups during Phase 1.
The study also defines several terms.
Kollebaryonic matter - A generalized term for matter composed of both baryons and kollerons
M82 Unmar Steel - Colloquialized form of M82 Zirconium- Magnesium- Titanium- Carbon- Darkstone Kollebaryonic amorphous alloy
Shadeslag - Colloquialized term for any Kollebaryonic alloys made from medium or low grades of Darkstone and any selection of metals
1-
Kolleronic-baryonic alloy characterization and categorization
The physical, mechanical, and chemical properties of Unmar Steel were characterized. Tensile testing, hardness testing, and impact testing were conducted to determine its strength, ductility, and toughness. Techniques such as X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to analyze its microstructure and chemical composition.
Notably, the actual sizes of Unmar Steel samples tested were between 0.3-1.4cm in length and width, with a depth of exactly 0.03mm. It was difficult creating samples that were any larger at this stage, as the power throughput to energize enough Darkstone and purify it to make larger samples was unattainable for the scientist setups during Phase 1.
The study also defines several terms.
Kollebaryonic matter - A generalized term for matter composed of both baryons and kollerons
M82 Unmar Steel - Colloquialized form of M82 Zirconium- Magnesium- Titanium- Carbon- Darkstone Kollebaryonic amorphous alloy
Shadeslag - Colloquialized term for any Kollebaryonic alloys made from medium or low grades of Darkstone and any selection of metals
2.
Optimization of the Kolleronic-baryonic alloying process
The alloying process for Unmar Steel was optimized. Experiments were conducted to identify the optimal mix of metals and the optimal process parameters such as temperature, pressure, and time. Tools such as design of experiments (DOE) and statistical analysis were used to systematically explore the parameter space and identify the optimal conditions.
It was concluded that optimal production occurs exclusively at the highest temperatures attainable before the baryonic alloy component becomes fully liquid - carefully maintaining it at the transition state was needed for optimal darkstone perfusion. Additionally, cooling must occur uniformly and rapidly, which is where liquid helium quenching was introduced.
The alloying process for Unmar Steel was optimized. Experiments were conducted to identify the optimal mix of metals and the optimal process parameters such as temperature, pressure, and time. Tools such as design of experiments (DOE) and statistical analysis were used to systematically explore the parameter space and identify the optimal conditions.
It was concluded that optimal production occurs exclusively at the highest temperatures attainable before the baryonic alloy component becomes fully liquid - carefully maintaining it at the transition state was needed for optimal darkstone perfusion. Additionally, cooling must occur uniformly and rapidly, which is where liquid helium quenching was introduced.
3.
Darkstone purification and Exodion-Darkstone plasma melange optimization
The darkstone purification process was studied. Experiments were conducted to characterize the effectiveness of the magnetic centrifuge and exodion gas treatment in purifying the kolleronic material. Techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging and gas chromatography were used to analyze the purity of the darkstone before and after purification.
Less pure darkstone byproducts were identified in this study, creating many spinoff studies into the uses of lower grades of darkstone in industrial and military applications, most notably in ammunition. Depleted Unmar would be the colloquialized name for this material.
On a related note, treatment with Halostone was found to be an unexpected possibility. When embedding, should the Exodion-Darkstone melange be made from sufficiently pure Darkstone plasma, embedded Darkstone would stabilize halostone treatment. The final product appeared to have a purple or blue sheen depending on temperature, and be capable of withstanding Meridian corrosion to a high degree.
The darkstone purification process was studied. Experiments were conducted to characterize the effectiveness of the magnetic centrifuge and exodion gas treatment in purifying the kolleronic material. Techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging and gas chromatography were used to analyze the purity of the darkstone before and after purification.
Less pure darkstone byproducts were identified in this study, creating many spinoff studies into the uses of lower grades of darkstone in industrial and military applications, most notably in ammunition. Depleted Unmar would be the colloquialized name for this material.
On a related note, treatment with Halostone was found to be an unexpected possibility. When embedding, should the Exodion-Darkstone melange be made from sufficiently pure Darkstone plasma, embedded Darkstone would stabilize halostone treatment. The final product appeared to have a purple or blue sheen depending on temperature, and be capable of withstanding Meridian corrosion to a high degree.
4.
Feasibility study for scaling up production of Unmar Steel
A feasibility study was conducted to determine the viability of scaling up production of Unmar Steel to an industrial scale. The economics of production were analyzed, the optimal production methods were identified using the previous studies, and the availability of resources such as raw materials, energy, and labor was assessed. The study also addressed potential environmental and safety concerns associated with the industrial process, noting that should the magnetic centrifuge or particle accelerator be unshielded, it could result in a nasty radiological damage to equipment and personnel. Additionally, the study identified potential markets for Unmar Steel, assessed the demand for the material, and evaluated any competitors in the market, of which two potential candidates were identified.
Castellex Plates: Produced and used by the natives of Ancerious, it is a cost effective armor plating. Unmar would outclass this armor in durability as well as performance in general, but as a result likely remain expensive for some time. This will not be considered a direct competitor due to the differences in market.
Trimantium: Expensive and high performance - therefore in the same general market as Unmar, and considered a direct competitor.
*Unmar has industrial uses, and can be used in construction for supporting titanic loads at lower mass than possible with other materials. It is difficult to assess its competition, as this sector is far more broad.
This was a critical step in determining the feasibility of expanding the industrial process for creating Unmar Steel beyond the proof of concept stage.
A feasibility study was conducted to determine the viability of scaling up production of Unmar Steel to an industrial scale. The economics of production were analyzed, the optimal production methods were identified using the previous studies, and the availability of resources such as raw materials, energy, and labor was assessed. The study also addressed potential environmental and safety concerns associated with the industrial process, noting that should the magnetic centrifuge or particle accelerator be unshielded, it could result in a nasty radiological damage to equipment and personnel. Additionally, the study identified potential markets for Unmar Steel, assessed the demand for the material, and evaluated any competitors in the market, of which two potential candidates were identified.
Castellex Plates: Produced and used by the natives of Ancerious, it is a cost effective armor plating. Unmar would outclass this armor in durability as well as performance in general, but as a result likely remain expensive for some time. This will not be considered a direct competitor due to the differences in market.
Trimantium: Expensive and high performance - therefore in the same general market as Unmar, and considered a direct competitor.
*Unmar has industrial uses, and can be used in construction for supporting titanic loads at lower mass than possible with other materials. It is difficult to assess its competition, as this sector is far more broad.
This was a critical step in determining the feasibility of expanding the industrial process for creating Unmar Steel beyond the proof of concept stage.
Once these studies were complete, funding to produce this material was granted by Noviy, the Selenican Republic, and the Elvorian Union. Officially, a joint organization would be created between the three nations, in which collaboration, organization, and distribution of funding across departments could be negotiated and executed.