In article , Harold and Susan Vordos says...

A surface finish of gold would certainly make it more resistant to
corrosion, but you may not have the means to apply the gold. It's not as
easy as you might imagine, due to the aluminum reducing the gold from
solution, or the gold migrating into the aluminum after it has been applied,
assuming you were successful in getting it that far.

Purple plague, anyone? Aluminum and gold do strange things indeed.

A protective
barrier of nickel would probably have to be applied, then gold. It would
likely be cheaper in the long run to use stainless, which would be resistant
to corrosion from all atmospheric conditions, and would stand up better to
fire----although unless it was well insulated, the contents of the chamber
would be destroyed by heat. Aluminum, by contrast, would melt. In
either case, you're not going to be protected against excessive heat, so
you'll have to research proper insulation if that's a concern.

Does he have to be heat resistant?

The other issue is for a chamber of that size, he could just as well
use pure gold as the material as the cost would be inconsequential.

Oh wait, I meant to say, for a chamber of that size, his best bet
would be concrete, as the cost for any metal would be prohibitive.

Hmm. Where in the center does the truth sit? It would be easier
if he said he was making a box to put his DNA in, or if were buildign
a bomb shelter to house his entire extended family. g

Honestly concrete's not a bad choice. How about granite, seriously?

Fireproof, create a cavity inside a block, with a tight fitting lid
and possibly some sort of gasket, put the lid on and there you are.

Worked for the pharos, eh? (though not with granite)

Jim


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