Carbon nanotubes, though not
discovered recently, are still being explored after its initial discovery
(1950-1990). For this reason, I still
consider carbon nanotubes as new technology or a new discovery. Carbon
nanotubes have so many attributes, which I will get to later. First, I will
give you a description of what they are. Second, I will provide some of the
many applications of carbon nanotubes. Thirdly, I will list the pros and cons
of carbon nanotubes.
Carbon nanotubes are man- made cylindrical
carbon molecules. Refer to Figure 1 below. Carbon nanotubes can be up to several millimeters long, but
their diameter is measured in just a few nanometers. To put that in
perspective, the width of a carbon nanotube is about 50,000 times smaller than
the width of a human hair. Carbon nanotubes can be categorized as either single
walled carbon nanotubes or multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes have
exceptional strength, absorbing capabilities, heat conductors, and unique
electrical properties. Carbon nanotubes for structural purposes are also
extremely expensive. They cost about $20/ gram whereas the cost of steel is
about $0.0004/ gram.
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| Figure 1 Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_nanotube#Discovery |
Because of carbon nanotubes’ many
attributes, they can be used in multiple ways in several different fields of
work. Due to their absorption properties, carbon nanotubes could potentially be
used to clean up oil spills. The strength of carbon nanotubes can be used in
multiple ways. Carbon nanotubes can be spun into a thread that can then be made
into bullet proof shirts. Carbon nanotubes could act as scaffolding for bone
growth in the health care field. In the field of civil engineering, I’m most
intrigued by carbon nanotubes being able to fill cracks that occur in
conventional concrete. Recently, carbon nanotubes have been put into paint that
is then applied to concrete to prevent or repair cracks. This serves to
reinforce the strength of the concrete and make the concrete more durable.
Carbon nanotubes have great
potential. Their many uses create enormous potential. Carbon nanotubes have a
tensile strength 100 times stronger than steel. They can work to reinforce
concrete and steel. Carbon nanotubes can also store electricity, possibly
leading to more efficient batteries in the future. Their strong absorption
abilities could lead to cleaning up oil spills. Although, strong absorption capabilities
could lead to trouble if humans came into contact with them, posing as a
serious health risk. Carbon nanotubes could cause a serious environmental risk
due to the lack of research on the effects of carbon nanotubes. There are a lot
of ways to create carbon nanotubes, but there hasn’t really been a way to mass
produce carbon nanotubes. Thus the price is extremely unreasonable. Also, any
defect in a carbon nanotube can decrease its strength by up to 85%. This could
lead to unpredictability strength wise.
In conclusion, carbon nanotubes
maybe an enormous part of the future, but at this point there is not enough
research for them to be safe to use. Further research could lead to the specialization
of this nanotechnology for each of its specific purposes. A mass production
technique needs to be designed to lessen the cost of nanotubes as well. In the
field of civil engineering, as interesting as carbon nanotubes are, they’re not
economically efficient. In comparison, steel is strong enough and very cheap.
Carbon nanotubes are simply unnecessary and unrealistic at this point in time.
Through further development though, carbon nanotubes could play a huge role in
our future.
I’ve heard of Carbon Nanotubes before but I couldn’t remember where until it clicked that I heard about them in a video I watched on YouTube about a Space Elevator. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ4Qp2xeRds. The idea of a space elevator would be a pretty big project, and I’m also unsure if it would be considered a Civil Engineering project or an Aerospace Engineering project. Never the less, the Space Elevator is a concept that is being designed and implemented for an easier and cheaper way of reaching space.
ReplyDeleteThe main idea behind the elevator is using a long elevator that reaches into space and has a counter weight on the end that travels as fast as the earth spins. This works because it is using gravity to pull it away from the earth at a certain point preventing it from collapsing and being able to not need any other supports other than the counterweight at the top. It is a really cool idea that’s main purpose would allow people and supplies to go into space without doing an expensive and more dangerous current way of propelling people into space through rockets. It is cheaper because items can be sent into space at a fraction of the cost. Current price of sending materials into space by a conventional rocket is around $11,000 per pound. Whereas the Space Elevator the same material sent to space would only cost around $100 per pound.
The way that the Space Elevator relates to this Blog is because the material of the Elevator would most likely be made from Carbon Nanotubes. This is because the Nanotubes would be strong enough to survive the pulls of gravity and the dangerous environment of space.
This is a very good and well thought article. You give a good description of what they are and how they can be used. They are expensive to use but have a lot of potential. I wonder how well carbon nanotube materials could be used in a composite component with concrete. This is obviously done with the paint applied to the exterior of concrete, but I wonder how what amount of paint thickness offers to improve the structural properties of the concrete. I'm sure there is a lot of research going on in the realm.
ReplyDeleteDr. Ulven in the Mechanical Engineering Department is the composites specialist on campus. When he was in grad school, part of his project was to apply a composite material around cracked or injured structural concrete bridge supports. An overpass support had been slightly damaged somehow (probably an accident), and the cost of replacing the beam was substantial. His team's project was to reinforce the problem area with their composite coating, and the total cost was a small fraction of the replacement cost of the support. Carbon nanotubes would be far stronger than most composite materials, and this would probably be an option for improving the structural strength even more. You're definitely right about the cost. However, historically new technology is very expensive. Usually somebody is able to figure out methods to make things cheaper, stronger, and faster than before. It may take years, but this will probably become cheaper and more economically feasible.
This was a very good article and as you mention I have heard of carbon nano tubes and knew what they were but they have kind of fallen off in things that I was hearing about. I was excited to see this article because of that fact.
ReplyDeleteI knew coming in of the crazy cool thing about nano tubes from their crazy hard to imagine small size to the amount of strength and flexibility that you are able to get from a set of these. though I didn't know what they were being used for currently. I was really interested what we were using them for in today's medical advancements. Thought surprisingly the thing that really go time excited was that we have been using them for repairing cracks or preventing them road lines. This is a really cool use of this technology Thank you very much for this information.
Carbon nanotubes have always fascinated me (as well as everyone else I know in the engineering field) so you definitely drew in the right crowd with this one! I never actually knew that carbon nanotubes were discovered so long ago. I've always been amazed that something so tiny could possibly be so vastly stronger than a material such as steel. It's kind of like how they say spider web is stronger than steel per unit volume, but humanity has created something even better!
ReplyDeleteWith reference to the current uses of carbon nanotubes, I did not realize they were actually being used much at all today until I read your article. If one day we are able to find a way to mass produce carbon nanotubes such that the cost to manufacture them will drop (significantly), it will be a monumental achievement for humanity and could open up gateways to things we never thought possible. I'm very excited to see what the future could bring.