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Paper Stronger Than Cast Iron

Posted by kdawson on from the write-on dept.

TaeKwonDood writes "All paper is made of cellulose, which at the nanoscale level is quite strong, but paper processing makes large, fragile fibers that break easily. Researchers in Sweden have have come up with a manufacturing process that keeps the fibers small, resulting in 'nanopaper' with over 1.6 times the tensile strength of cast iron (214 megapascals vs. 130 mPa). And since cellulose is the most abundant organic compound on the planet, it's cheap to use compared to other exotic, expensive-to-produce options — such as carbon nanotubes."

12 of 327 comments (clear)

  1. It's strong enough to build a ship by camperdave · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's strong enough to build a ship out of... as long as you don't get it wet.

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  2. Iron Man's nemesis... PAPER MAN by Armon · · Score: 5, Funny

    Coming next summer, the Epic battle between Robert Downy Jr. as Iron Man, and an unknown antagonists who goes by the mysterious PAPER MAN! /attempt at humor

  3. Papery by Deltaspectre · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's just like irony but stronger

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  4. awesome - shredproof paper! by Tumbleweed · · Score: 5, Funny

    Perfect for government documents and voting machine audit results. :)

  5. Oh, great... by professorfalcon · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is going to mess up so many games of Paper, Rock, and Scissors.

  6. Re:Great, but is it fireproof? by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 5, Funny

    Or treatable to be fire-resistant?

    I can see a lot of uses for it even if it isn't. But I can see some fairly awe-inspiring ones if it's possible. Guy 1: BWAHAHAHA, BEWARE my super-robot made with nanopaper! It's stronger than steel!
    Guy 2: *lights match*
    Robot: *FWOOOM*
    Guy 1: :(
  7. hang on! by H0D_G · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wait, so paper beats scissors now?

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  8. Re:Which is not much... by strength_of_10_men · · Score: 5, Funny

    but where does this leave me?

  9. Does this mean better, more useful origami? by master5o1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Like Paper Construction Cranes?

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    signature is pants
  10. Re:What is Tensile Strength by mrbluze · · Score: 5, Funny

    There seems to be some confusion about what tensile strength is. Tensile strength is how well a material can resist pulling, not bending or compression. Exactly, for example, ordinary toilet paper has poor tensile strength, resulting in many a brown finger for some. Let's hope this will stop with our new, stronger-than-steel paper. On the downside we may expect a few more red fingers.
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  11. Re:First! by Vectronic · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Ever tried writing on iron? Not as easy... and folding it to put it in your pocket tends to be difficult."

    However, if you etch a piece of metal, you can use it as a stamp to create numerous copies of the etching, and when you hit severe writers block, its much easier to kill yourself with a piece of tin than paper cuts.

  12. Not really news by Attila · · Score: 5, Funny

    Anyone who has ever used a public toilet in Sweden would know that this has been in development for some time.

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