Found this is in Chemical Marketing Reporter, Aug 19-26, 2002, Section 2,
Page 15:

NASA Develops New High-Strength Alloy

Structural engineers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) have developed a new high-strength aluminum-silicon alloy.  Created
at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Ala., the new
allow, MSCF-398, or NASA High-Strength Alloy, "is ideal for
high-temperature cast components used in engines such as pistons,
connecting rods, actuators, brake calipers and rotors," says Jonathan Lee,
the alloy's co-designer.  NASA representatives say the new alloy "makes a
good choice for high-temperature applications in the automotive, aerospace,
marine and recreational vehicle industries."  Mr. Lee co-invented the alloy
with Po Shou Chen of the Huntsville-based Morgan Research Corp.  NASA says
the wear-resistant MSFC-398, when tested at 600° Fahrenheit, exhibits three
to four times the strength of conventional cast aluminum alloys.  The space
agency projects that the new metal can be produced at about $1 per pound.

3 to 4 x the strength of current alloys
able to be used in pistons, brake calipers and rotors ...
hmmm, I'm thinking receivers, carriers, heck, lets try and make a barrel
out of it ....

According to my data, to buy a 2" x 6" x 6ft piece of AL 6061 costs $240,
which makes it $2.85 per pound.  So this alloy is stronger AND cheaper?

I like NASA!  They make nice stuff.  Now if they would only stop claiming they invented Teflon and Velcro ...

Marty