Nano Tube technology is finally here - maybe

[rlb2]

<font color="orange">WASHINGTON - Carbon nanotubes, the wunderkind molecules of the nanoworld, are finally showing strength in numbers. Researchers have now made large nanotube sheets that have many of the same star qualities as the prima donna-like single molecules, bringing the promises of nanotechnology a step closer to reality.<br /> <br />The flexible, transparent sheets can conduct electricity and emit light or heat when a voltage is applied, leading their creators to propose that our car windows and the canopies of military aircraft could contain nearly invisible antennae, electrical heaters for defrost, or informative optical displays.<br /> <br />These sheets, which are presently several meters long but could potentially be much larger, might also be useful in everything from flexible computer screens that could be rolled into a sack, to light bulb-like devices providing uniform lighting, to strong sails that could be propelled in space by sunlight<br /><br />The researchers have now shown that by teasing nanotubes away from one side of a forest and attaching them to a strip of sticky tape they can draw the nanotubes into a continuous sheet. With this method they can produce nanotube sheets at up to seven meters per minute, which is fairly close to the rate of commercial wool spinning.<br /><br />The scientists report their findings in the 19 August issue of the journal Science, published by AAAS, the nonprofit science society.<br /><br /><br />http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8976160/<br /></font> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>

 

[arobie]

Awesome, thank you for that.<br /><br />Looks like they still have not achieved the strength sought after, but they are getting closer.<br /><br />Anyways, the strength is not main benefit of these sheets. I think it's awesome that this material could be used for artificial muscles. I aslo like the possibile use for solar cells, light sources, and heat sources.<br /><br />They plan on entering this C-nanotube material in the Spaceward Foundation’s Elevator:2010 contest. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" />

 

[rlb2]

<font color="orange">Anyways, the strength is not main benefit of these sheets.<font color="white"><br /><br />Your right there is so many possibility of what it may do for us in the future beside space elevator. <br /><br />Nano-tech today may be at a similar point in a new human life cycle as computers were in 1975. I watched my calc teacher show math equation on a monochrome monitor that was graphed on the new 4 kb computer that he said cost the college 10,000 dollars. I'm sure people are saying yea but what can nano-tech do for me, similarly to what I asked my instructor about computers that spring day back in 75. <br /><br />Hopefully this is the beginning of the Nano generation and not another adventure into the abyss of unrealized hype.<br /><br />Nano - Nano<br /></font></font> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>