MR> In fact I've heard of plans to use aluminum to fuel cars because the
 MR> energy used to refine the aluminum is in a fashion "stored" in the
 MR> material.

Yes and no.  The problem is that aluminum passivates readily.  That
means clean aluminum oxidizes, but aluminum oxide clings to the metal.
As opposed to iron, where rust is relatively easily removed.  It's not
as easy to get to the reactive aluminum as it is with magnesium.

 MM> Err ... isn't there some form of explosive that utilises aluminum
 MM> in this way ?

Magnesium worksjust dandy.  Powdered magnesium and iron filings
was how they used to weld railroad rails.

Paul Rogers, paulgrogers{at}yahoo.com                       -o)
http://www.angelfire.com/or/paulrogers                   /\\
Rogers' Second Law: Everything you do communicates.     _\_V

... No way!  Get back!  It is MY keyboard, hear that, MINE!!
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