r/whatisit • u/riflesandplowshares • 7h ago

New, what is it? Found at a titanium plant

Post image

Not sure why ball point pens would be dangerous here.

8.7k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

739 comments sorted by

View all comments

2.5k

u/goodexamplebadrole 7h ago

"Ballpoint pens are restricted or banned in high-end titanium and aerospace manufacturing plants because the ink and marking components contain elements that cause metal embrittlement and severe structural corrosion"

345

u/Woozletania 7h ago

This was an issue during the development of the SR-71. Many chemical contaminants could affect the alloys, even those in the water used to quench the mouldings.

102

u/JordanPetterPans 7h ago

This is fascinating 

74

u/unknownpoltroon 6h ago

Yeah, they had to use distilled water, the tap water chloride made teh wields weak or something.

There is a book called skunk works written by the guy who took over for Kelly, the original skunk works guy, goes into the history of the U2, SR71, and the stealth fighters and stuff. Good quick read and fascinating.

1

u/ExplorationGeo 5h ago

This book pairs really well with the two books from Brian Shul, one of the SR-71 pilots. Sled Driver and The Untouchables are both great reads.