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A comment on Officer of China’s People’s Liberation Army Arrested at LAX. Parent comment

Re:Officer of China’s People’s Liberation Army Arrested at LAX by s1artibartfast on Saturday June 13, 2020 @02:55AM (#23507429)
Aerospace metallurgy is some of the most secretive aspects of development. Metal filings could literally have been more valuable than the blueprints. This is still a very competitive space a challenge for reverse engineering. Even with samples and atomic analyses, it is not always possible possible to reproduce without the proper method.

Here is a related link. https://www.inkstonenews.com/tech/chinese-spy-accused-trying...

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Re:Officer of China’s People’s Liberation Army Arrested at LAX by oliwarner on Saturday June 13, 2020 @03:26AM (#23507571)
As you hint, raw composition isn't even half the story. You can put your microscopic samples in the mass spec and then melt the same elements together and not end up with the same stuff.

Treatment, how it's worked, how it's coated are just as important.

Not to mention how contaminated filings usually are.

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