From: jvorbrueggen-not@mediasec.de   
      
   >>I was wondering about using titanium for just the leading structural   
   >>member. Comparing Al to Ti the melting points are 669C vs 1660C,   
   >>quite a bit different. I guess that says nothing of how much strength   
   >>either loses as they approach the melting point.   
   >   
   > Exactly.  The maximum *working* temperatures -- temperatures at which they   
   > still dependably retain most of their strength -- are much, much lower,   
   > and if I recall correctly, only a couple of hundred degrees apart.   
      
   Additionally, this was a dynamic event. AIUI, Ti has lower thermal   
   conductivity, so in such a case the Al would have the advantage of   
   being able to "cool" the impacted parts of the structure to the rest   
   of it, while the local temperature rise would be faster for Ti, further   
   reducing its advantage.   
      
   	Jan   
      
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