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New Carbon-based Paper Stronger Than Nanotubes

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the house-of-strong-cards dept.

LynnwoodRooster writes "Science Magazine reports that a group from Northwestern University in Illinois has a new process for creating carbon-based paper that's stronger than nanotubes, and incredibly easy to use to make sheets of any desired sizes. Huge implications for aircraft, automobiles, and the ever-sought-after space elevator?"

2 of 166 comments (clear)

  1. Strong, but not strong enough. by Orange+Crush · · Score: 5, Informative

    Huge implications for . . . the ever-sought-after space elevator?

    Sadly, no. TFA links to the actual paper. Tensile strength is on the order of 35 GPa. We'd need 65 GPa or more from a material with density similar to graphite.

  2. Kevlar by Guppy · · Score: 5, Informative

    TFA states that water is the "kryptonite" of the superstrong paper. Doesn't that kill its practicality in things like planes and automobiles? If it rains, then you could have a major catastrophe on your hands... This is exactly the same mechanism that causes Kevlar to lose strength when wet. The strength of the material is in large part dependent on hydrogen bonding between the polymer chains. Water also forms hydrogen bonds, and so it can insert itself between them, weakening the material.