Ancient Egyptian Tech May Be Key To Printing 3D Ceramics

Zothecula writes "We like to think of technology as always being forward looking. It's supposed to be about nanoparticles and the Cloud, not steam engines and the telephone exchange. But every now and again the past reaches out, taps the 21st century on the shoulder and says, 'Have a look at this.' That's what happened to Professor Stephen Hoskins, Director of the University of West England, Bristol's Centre for Fine Print Research. He is currently working on a way of printing 3D ceramics that are self-glazing, thanks to a 7,000-year old technology from ancient Egypt."

Re:But...

[perpenso]

In Stargate, they had cool helmets, but no time travel.

I think you missed an episode or two of the TV series. :-)

Re:Better for printing weapons?

[Kharny]

Glocks have a ceramic frame, but are not entirely ceramic.
There are no guns that have barrels of anything but metal(mostly highgrade carbon steel)

Re:Better for printing weapons?

[zoloto]

You guys have no idea what you're talking about. There has never been or ever will be a Glock made out of ceramic materials. Ceramics don't have the necessary strength to maintain integrity for even a single shot of a round. They have a polymer frame and a steel slide and barrel. Stop getting your information from Die Hard 2. It makes you look pathetic to regurgitate the same ignorant shit people have spouted for the last two decades.

Re:Better for printing weapons?

[dbIII]

They've got the strength, but that's not the problem, it's toughness - the ability to absorb the energy of a shot instead of shattering like glass.