X-Message-Number: 30037
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:10:25 -0700
From: hkhenson <>
Subject: Nanotube milestone
References: <>

 From the LiftPort forum

The University of Cambridge will announce that it has produced 20 Gpa
carbon nanotube ribbons

Recently, Dr. Alan Windle at the University of Cambridge announced
the development of 20 GPa yarns derived from nanotubes. These
materials are produced from nanotube yarns and contain graphitic
hyperfilaments composed of nanotubes, which exhibit strengths
comparable to an individual nanotube but over macroscopic length scales.

******

This still isn't strong enough for a space elevator, but it's a big
step in that direction.

For those like me who still tend to think in English units, 20 GPa is
about 2.9 million psi. That's close to 30 times as strong as aluminum alloys.

Keith Henson 

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