🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <19077@mindlink.bc.ca> Nick_Janow@mindlink.bc.ca (Nick Janow) writes:
>... I suppose nitrogen--or
>other inert gas--would have to be imported.  It could be mixed with oxygen,
>since molten aluminum forms an oxide slag cover...

Probably workable, although pressurant injection will have to be smooth
enough not to disturb the surface too much.  (This is something that can
be a problem with some other kinds of pressurization, e.g. pressurizing
LOX with GOX -- there can be substantial mixing that cools the pressurant
gas considerably.)

>To Henry: I've never heard of aluminum being very reactive with nitrogen.
>Titanium is unusual.

That's my impression too... but aluminum's pussycat reputation is mostly
due to its oxide film -- it *is* a fiercely reactive metal.  Probably
okay, but if I were head of the design bureau :-), I'd like to see this
checked before committing to it.
-- 
"God willing... we shall return."       | Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
       -Gene Cernan, the Moon, Dec 1972 |  henry@zoo.toronto.edu  utzoo!henry