Hello everyone. I have 2 questions for you all.

First: I am a designer working on a project that is prone to using some cool new plastic or plastic who's appearence is altered by a new process such as overcasting. (Red opaque plastic cast within a clear body for example.) With the same idea in mind I have also been looking through the net for an exciting metal to use. The problem with creating my product out of metal is the weight of even solid titanium is too great, therefore Ive been researching things like foamed aluminum. Does anyone know of anything off hand that is a fantastic new plastic/metal material or process...?

Second: On the same topic Ive been looking for a forum that specializes their conversation on materials(new and old), manufacturing processes, and perhapse industrial design in general.

Any feedback would be very helpfull.
Best,
BumpMan

Try this forum

http://www.eng-tips.com

There is specific areas for metallurgy. material science questions.

Have you investigated using magnesuim alloys. 30% of the density of Aluminium and some alloys can achieve similar strengths.

I have mentioned magnesium. I need to do a little research on it as I dont know much about it. I just found out that you can apply a thin resin coating to smooth over metal foams, even titanium foam which it pretty cool. Thanks for the link I'll check it out now.

Alan,
thanks again for that link its fantastic.
Best,
BumpMan

What do you want as far a properties? Strength, impact resistance, temp resistance, etc.

www.ticona.com

We make plastic. Some of it is conductive.

hey, were looking for very simple charictoristics. Not brittle but ridgid the weight should be that af about titanium but a bit lighter. Most importantly if we use plastic it to have something new in the visual department. We dont want just black, clear or whatever plastic. Something rarely used or not seen in a casual consumer product. Maybe its a great surface texture or coating, maybe its all clear with our 3D logo cast within the clear part. Were trying to make a plastic part that people will look at with intrest beyond the fact that its simply plastic. Any ideas?

BTW this is for the handle of a handheld tool. people will drop it. The handle is an entirely seperate piece and does not have to be molded onto another piece for example.

PPS, or Fortron, had metallic properties, but is non magnetic, and very strong. Are you looking for color? it can be made into any color. Fiberglass reinforced. Texture is a product of the molding process, so whatever you want you can get. Most of the plastics Ticona makes are in cars, and electronics. We have some that people mold at a higher yeild rates than CNC machining from tiny to big and everything inbetween.