Nanotube based CCTs stronger than cotton fibers

04 Aug '08

2 min read

A group of scientists have developed a unique nanotube-based material which is said to be a lot stronger than the traditional cotton fibres. This new material called porous colossal carbon tubes (CCTs) evinces all the characteristics essential as a suitable replacement to cotton.

CCTs is not only bigger in size with a diameter of between 40 and 100 micron and a length in range of centimeters but is also composed of macroscopic rectangular columnar pores exhibiting an ultra low density comparable to that of carbon nanofoams.

CCTs has a unique architecture with rectangular macropores across the tube walls and layered crystal structures in solid walls, which give it some interesting characteristics like ultralight weight, extremely high strength, excellent ductility, and high conductivity.

The material is also claimed to have excellent electrical features making these colossal carbon tube even more functional. Researchers vouch for the material being 15 times stronger than the strongest carbon fiber available. Besides, its tenacity is also said to be 30 times higher than that of Kevlar and 224 times of individual cotton fibers.

This apart, the material can bear up to 3 percent strain before causing any damage to the fabric. Although, no actual products based on CCTs have been announced, scientists are hopeful about further developing this material for use in self-healing composite structures, medical devices to release multiple drugs simultaneously, and micro-electromechanical systems.

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