Nanotubes Start to Show their Promise 329
Rei writes "Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas have developed the highest quality nanotube sheets to date (the team previously set strength records with polymer-nanotube composites). Producable at a rate comparable to commercial wool spinning, the transparent cloth has exceedingly high conductivity, flexibility, has huge surface area to volume ratios, can potentially be made into very effective OLEDs and thin-film photovoltaic cells, and outperforms even our best bulk materials (such as Mylar and Kevlar) at strength normalized to weight. It strongly absorbs microwaves for localized heating (leading to applications in seamless microwave welding of sections and even windshield warming), changes conductivity little over a wide temperature range (very useful in sensors), and is expected to be used in commercial applications very soon. The research should even be expandable to artificial muscles! To head people off, while the exact tensile strength is not listed, it sounds like it is still far from the >100 GPa needed for a space elevator. Anyways, here's to process advancements!"
Near first post (Score:2, Funny)
Hurm... (Score:5, Funny)
Oh good. I wonder how much it will cost for a packet of laser printer paper made of this stuff?
I could use something snazzy for my resume.
Miracle (Score:2, Funny)
Does this mean? (Score:5, Funny)
flexible screens..? (Score:5, Funny)
Or, from the article, and perhaps of more interest to us:
"flexible computer screens that could be rolled into a sack"
Haven't we been promised this for years? I wanna roll up my computer screen & carry it into my flying car!
Oh, wonderous progress! (Score:5, Funny)
Super, I envision the day where I can replace my tin-foil hat with a nanotube beret.
Re:Does this mean? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Miracle (Score:5, Funny)
Just like Jesus!
Re:Near first post (Score:1, Funny)
Re:flexible screens..? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Hurm... (Score:5, Funny)
of course, the ink will be the most expensive type of fluid with built-in DRM!
Re:Still lot of carbon... (Score:2, Funny)
Wow..... (Score:3, Funny)
and outperforms even our best bulk materials (such as Mylar and Kevlar) at strength normalized to weight. It strongly absorbs microwaves for localized heating
Should be interesting to see the day when a drug dealer overrides the safety interlock on his microwave and points it at nanotube body armour wearing DEA officials during a bust.
Should bring a new meaning to the phrase "hot tits"
Space elevator time... (Score:5, Funny)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stoptheelevator/ [yahoo.com]
Re:Does this mean? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Hurm... (Score:5, Funny)
Good bye disposables (Score:2, Funny)
the key ingredient to this all: (Score:5, Funny)
again proof that duct tape can make anything work!
Soon we will have duct tape made out of this nanotubes, after that, who knows or even dares to dream!!!
Re:About time. (Score:5, Funny)
Of course, if you had been part of the effort, it would've happened twice as fast. But you obviously had other priorities, and I'm sure I speak for all of us here when I express my deep appreciation for taking a little of your precious time to share your insight with Slashdot.
Re:Miracle (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Good bye disposables (Score:5, Funny)
Underpants wear out?