Hello Guys!, i want to make a question, what do you think about the method shared by user “A321XP” in the “#Concepts” channel of the official Thrive Discord about using Chitin for metalworking? Do you think it can’t be done or that it can be done but with difficulties? Thanks! 
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I will simply say:
/j
but for real, what is the chitin method? Can you post it here in the forum?
Is this an underwater civ thread? Weren’t these superbanned?
I mean, since I finished reading the last attempt at making this work, I’ve found some more possibilities for metallurgy, but I’m not sure if we’re allowed to even discuss them anymore
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Typed this out so you don’t have to and can just click a link like a normal person.
Consider: actually reading the article. Even if you assume the best, this jumps out:
While these chitometallic composites were not physically strong, the researchers found that the material acquired good electrical conductivity and could be 3D-printed. At the same time, the material continued to show compatibility with other biomaterials despite only containing a small amount of chitosan. This opens up the possibility of introducing these chitometallic properties into other biomaterials, such as wood and cellulose.
Fernandez believes this technology creates a new paradigm of metalworking. Despite the lack of mechanical strength, the fabricated biomaterial is suitable for non-load-bearing metallic components, such as electrical components or battery electrodes. Metalwork for some components can now be performed without being resource-intensive.
“This technology does not replace traditional methods but enables new complementary production methods,” he emphasized.
Secondly, this line implies something:
They were able to form solid metallic composites under standard temperature and pressure just by introducing very small amounts of chitosan and water between particles of different metals.
Particles, huh? Particles of metal? Was the metal, perhaps, already smelted? We usually call unsmelted metal ore, so I’ll take the uncharitable approach, and say yes, this idea requires the metal to already be smelted.
And uhh, having browsed my way to the doi link and the supplemental links from there, I found this, which basically confirms, yes, they put powdered regular presmelted metal in the chitin. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/downloadSupplement?doi=10.1002%2Fadfm.202406800&file=adfm202406800-sup-0001-SuppMat.pdf
Yep. Consider reading the thing.
Technically (nerd emoji) it’s an underwater metalworking thread, but uhh, yeah pretty much. If you’re gonna bring up an idea for underwater civs or metalworking read the list I made (and really need to edit), it’s linked in my bio, and check your own sources so I don’t have to, and look forward to hhyyrylainen’s wrath.
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Not superbanned, but the criteria for new posts was that any new post must be presented like a scholarly paper, with footnotes, arguments for, citations, and counter-arguments. We’ll see how this fares 
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Oh, would a really long essay with a ridiculous amount of citations fit the criteria? I’m making an essay on underwater civs right now and I’m currently in the editing phase.
I don’t think length is a requirement, this isn’t a school paper, but (me not being a mod and therefore being sensible to ignore) if it’s both well cited and actually explains what in the citations backs up the argument instead of making us hunt for it, yeah! (And the idea itself would have to but fully explained in detail, not like just thrown at the wall, it’s not our job to see if it sticks, we (I at least) don’t want to spend forever explaining the basic mistake you made to everyone who comes after you asking about your idea.) so yeah, should have some length to it, but brevity is also the soul of wit apparently.
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Yeah, this thread doesn’t qualify for actually explaining anything. And to not waste my time more I’ll take @Deathwake’s analysis that this is just some overhyped single research paper that doesn’t prove anything whatsoever related to underwater civs.
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