Until very recently, no metal was known to have the property of transparency; Mercury was the only one that presented characteristics different from those of the rest of the metals, as it remained in a liquid state under ambient conditions. However, the Dnepropetrovsk Metallurgical Institute of Ukraine developed a technology a few years ago by which it is possible to eliminate the opacity of certain metals and, although a transparency similar to that of glass is not achieved, a certain light transmission is achieved. The result is a translucent metal , and very light as it is porous.
In addition, according to those responsible for the project, the metals thus treated continue to retain many of their qualities, including a high degree of hardness , and can be subjected to the same industrial processes. Among the many applications that these transparent metals can have in industry is their use as chemical filters, oxygenation devices for water purifiers and structures for aircraft.
