On at least two occasions I have said on this site that Alconite was just Fuji's trade name for Zerconium. I don't remember where I got that information but it turns out according to Fuji the Alconite rings are reinforced aluminum oxide. Fuji does not say what they are reinforced with but they are not zerconium. This is not the first time in my life that I was full of %$#*& and probably will ot be the last. There is a chart on their site that gives the hardness, weight, and heat dissipation of their guide materials. I have seen the same data for zerconium but I can not remember where I saw it.

Emory... I am a materials engineer with access to ISO certified laboratory instruments, an avid fisherman, and a soon to be rod builder. If anyone would like to pursue this matter (on material evaluation of various guides), for no charge, I could give you and this forum a chemistry (elemental breakdown via EDX analysis) and accurate hardness (Vickers, Rockwell) of the major three or four ceramic guide materials out there. It would be interesting and informative. Would anybody be willing to donate the samples?

Mark,
I would be very happy to send you a bunch of samples. As many samples as you need. But I think that it would take more than 3 or 4. How much work would it be to test say 3 different aluminum oxide, 1 titanium oxide, 1 Alconite, 2 different zerconium one with titanium nitride PVD coating and one with titanium carbide PVD coating, and a siicon carbide for Vickers hardness?
If it was not asking you to do too much work, this would really be useful data for rod builders. This comparative data is just not available anywhere that I know of.

Mark Grauf you wouldn't happen to be MarkG (BFHP,RR) would you? if so then this guy is from another planet. Some of the test he does and can do are amazing. Thanks for the test you have already preformed and shared, Mike

Emory,
The sample quantity that you stated would not be a problem. It might take me a month or so to complete the analysis (you know, government work). Email me at mark.grauf@delphi.com I think this would be very informative.

Mark,
I do not think a month would be a problem, we have been without this data for years. It would be nice to have the weight, coefficient of friction, thermal mass and thermal conductivity as well but the hardness is probably the most important. If you will e-mail me your address I will get the guides off to you ASAP.

Mark,
Your e-mail address is hidden.

Mike - Different Mark.

Emory / Mark ,
Whatever Emory doesn't have - I'll be willing to send you - No problem .... as many as you' d care to test. Let me know off line which ones
you still need.

Hi, I think this a great advancement to rod builders, and would be a great help. Thanks Mark. I would throw in a number 30 Recoil spin guide for the test, may finally put down, or substantiate claims they are soft. Let me know if you would take it, thanks, Rich.