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Gatsby
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
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 Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 11:23 pm Post subject: Buckypaper could revolutionize the world |
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This is a mind-boggling story. This stuff is super strong, conducts electricity, shields against EMF, and disperses heat. It sounds like it could prove almost as revolutionary in its impact as the integrated circuit.
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Revolutionary paper is stronger than steel
Story Highlights
'Buckypaper' could revolutionize the way everything from airplanes to TVs are made
When stacked together, buckypaper is potentially 500 times stronger than steel
It conducts electricity like copper or silicon and disperses heat like steel or brass
Researchers at Florida State developed Buckypaper from carbon molecules
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (AP) -- It's called "buckypaper" and looks a lot like ordinary carbon paper, but don't be fooled by the cute name or flimsy appearance. It could revolutionize the way everything from airplanes to TVs are made.
Florida State University researcher Ben Wang, whose computer screen shows a microscopic view of buckypaper.
Buckypaper is 10 times lighter but potentially 500 times stronger than steel when sheets of it are stacked and pressed together to form a composite. Unlike conventional composite materials, though, it conducts electricity like copper or silicon and disperses heat like steel or brass.
"All those things are what a lot of people in nanotechnology have been working toward as sort of Holy Grails," said Wade Adams, a scientist at Rice University.
That idea -- that there is great future promise for buckypaper and other derivatives of the ultra-tiny cylinders known as carbon nanotubes -- has been floated for years now. However, researchers at Florida State University say they have made important progress that may soon turn hype into reality.
Buckypaper is made from tube-shaped carbon molecules 50,000 times thinner than a human hair. Due to its unique properties, it is envisioned as a wondrous new material for light, energy-efficient aircraft and automobiles, more powerful computers, improved TV screens and many other products.
So far, buckypaper can be made at only a fraction of its potential strength, in small quantities and at a high price. The Florida State researchers are developing manufacturing techniques that soon may make it competitive with the best composite materials now available.
"If this thing goes into production, this very well could be a very, very game-changing or revolutionary technology to the aerospace business," said Les Kramer, chief technologist for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, which is helping fund the Florida State research.... |
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/10/17/buckypaper.invention.ap/index.html |
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yawarakaijin
Joined: 08 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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I fell in love with buckeyballs from the moment I first read an article on them years ago. I'm glad so see they are making more and more progress everyday. My retirement almost entirely dependant on nanotechnology becoming cheap and widespread before I hit 65. I know you aren't supposed to put all your faith in one certain stock but I don't have too much money to play around with. 
To me, it seems that nanotech is going to be one of those real "game changers". Let's hope research and development continue at fair pace. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 12:30 am Post subject: |
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| If they are creative enough to come up with this stuff, why aren't they creative enough to come up with a better name? |
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the_beaver
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 12:35 am Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
| If they are creative enough to come up with this stuff, why aren't they creative enough to come up with a better name? |
The technology is based on the ideas of Buckminister Fuller in the area of complex carbon structures which we usually call Bucky Balls. There are a host of applications from roundish molecules that could be used as bearings in nanotechnology to geodesic domes. If the technology is related to the application of his ideas, generally it's named with a Buck or Bucky in there somewhere. |
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Leslie Cheswyck
Joined: 31 May 2003
Location: University of Western Chile
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| Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 2:54 am Post subject: |
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| Can't wait to wipe my ass with it. |
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sojourner1
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Where meggi swim and 2 wheeled tractors go sput put chug alugg pug pug
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| Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 3:57 am Post subject: |
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Great, Americans are still innovating technologies. Now let's actually see an American enterprise develop and manufacture this technology for the world that creates great jobs (for educated Americans) and profitability that adds value to the country. Remember all our water powered car ideas that never were to be? And a company in India produces such technology off our idea, but only for it's domestic market. We have so much great engineering and research in our universities, but often just sell ourselves out by sending the ideas and processes overseas so Chinese can cheaply make shit and develop new financial wealth while we get poorer and poorer.
What's in it for the USA? New jobs, career opportunities, new economic growth, and new products we profit from??? Probably not. Ditto.
It's plausible that our government has supported research institutions and people getting an education, but our business leaders just sell the ideas (and jobs!) to the Chinese and Indians who produce cheap crap in the end that ruins people's health due to cutting corners in the manufacturing processes. Our business leaders just sell us out and then we're stuck with big debt and going nowhere jobs while our health is ruined due to faulty goods. |
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