Can carbon nanotube composites be constructed to form rigid enough materials such as bulkheads or ships’ hulls?
January 15th, 2010 | by admin |I was reading that a tensile-truss made of carbon nanotubes could be used to hold together engines and modules in zero gravity. I know that, by using the word "tensile", it means that the truss is like wiring or cables, and can bend and adjust when loosened. But can carbon nanotubes be used to make solid, (relatively) non-flexible materials? The rigidness I’m thinking of is like a pipe, one that cannot be easily bent, unlike say copper wire.
Thanks.
Very good question. The answer is yes, but it is not recommended as Carbon nanotube can become malleable. The structure of the tube is what causes it not to be and in order to be converted the form will need to be changed.
That is not something a person would want as their Ship’s hull.
One Response to “Can carbon nanotube composites be constructed to form rigid enough materials such as bulkheads or ships’ hulls?”
By Myles on Jan 15, 2010 | Reply
Very good question. The answer is yes, but it is not recommended as Carbon nanotube can become malleable. The structure of the tube is what causes it not to be and in order to be converted the form will need to be changed.
That is not something a person would want as their Ship’s hull.
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