Tip resistance nanowires

2009/05/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Nanoteknologia

A team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute finds a way to make even stronger resistant composites. Composites' carbon fibers have been harsher if stored with microscopic carbon nanotubes. Carbon is a very resistant and resistant material that is frequently used in the construction of aircraft structures. However, in structures for aircraft parts, for example, carbon fibers present a weakness: engineers interlace carbon fibers with epoxy resins in layers, which gives a point of weakness to the entire structure. Therefore, these structures are not able to withstand high stresses and a break between layers may occur.

To avoid these fractures, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute have proposed an improvement. They have developed a chemical process. In this process, rapid growth of nanowires has been observed by heating carbon fibers to 750°C. These threads are woven and epoxy resin is introduced. Therefore, the layers remain united. In fact, they get the velcro effect.

This new material is ten times more resistant than current composites. According to the researchers, future improvements will increase the strength of the new material.