Spinning nanotube fibers at Rice University

Scientists have created the first pure carbon nanotube fibers that combine many of the best features of highly conductive metal wires, strong carbon fibers and pliable textile thread. In a Jan. 11 paper in the journal Science, researchers from Rice University, the Dutch firm Teijin Aramid, the U.S. Air Force and Israel's Technion Institute describe an industrially scalable process for making the threadlike fibers, which outperform commercially available products in a number of ways.

[@tadeth]

For those who think most inventions are already accomplished, it is time to wake up and realize the window is opening ever wider.

[@randalldewitt1222]

Has Rice University attempted to spin graphene either alone, or mixed with the carbon nanotube fibers? If perfected and coated, could be used for electrical motor windings, which could drastically reduce electrical motor/generator weight, while also improving the motor/generator performance characteristics. Something important to investigate further.

[@AbstergoView]

Thank you very much for informing me on this, its been a real pain trying to understand their process :D

[@Zakat_DJ]

The nanotubes in the fibers are heavily bundled together so it is unlikely that breaking the fibers will cause nanotubes to become airborne. Of course, this will need to be tested thoroughly before putting nanotube fibers out in the market, but the arrangement and packing of the nanotubes in the fibers makes it a very different material from asbestos.

[@copperhead228]

forget the space elevator, i want the suit from crysis! :)

[@CSRedRat]

Wow! Great work!

[@MysticalDork]

No problem, I love spreading knowledge through the internet. I can't wait until nanotube textiles are commonplace, I can think of so many applications for them.

[@eesiflo]

Those fibers are something else!

[@Frankthetank0310]

this is going to revolutionize everything bub

[@MysticalDork]

As soon as the acid-nanotube mixture comes out of those holes, the acid is rapidly diluted by the surrounding water, leaving behind only the nanotubes themselves. The nanotube fibers are then twisted onto the spool and dried, not necessarily in that order (I have no expertise in this field) and voila, you have (probably almost completely pure) nanotube thread.

[@MysticalDork]

Yes and no; Some arrangements are metallic in conductivity, and some are semiconducting. Unless there is a way to control which type is dominant, your milage will vary considerably from nanotube to nanotube, and batch to batch.

[@2001lextalionis]

very impressive work, thanks for posting this video. Space Elevator at 1G is a major obstacle, but perhaps a martian elevator between the surface and Phobos/Deimos. The space tether appears a far more appealing a technology at this point

[@Buzzhumma]

Great work

[@Unknown-gi1uj]

I had a question for a potential product i am designing, my question is can nanotubes be scaled up to hold a 1000psi pressurized gas? i don't need it on the nanoscale, more so the width of a pin.

[@Eay5paev]

Could this be used to make lightweight coils for electromagnetic motors and generators?

[@andrewmorton9683]

Do you have enough final product to test bulk thermal conductivity as a woven material?

[@AdarshSStark]

nice video, and i want to know one thing. are they sticky in nature?

[@ildarbusaev]

Very good!

[@MrRoyzalis]

My automobile muffler is held up by regular nylon rope, but the super high temperatures of the muffler keep burning the rope, Would the nanotube yarn be strong enough to hold up my muffler and would it withstand the temperatures? If so, this stuff has a future.

[@Xerkies]

I'm sorry to ask but what can a space elevator involve with nano tubes?

[@johnrenney516]

INCREDIBLE

[@MysticalDork]

It is more than strong and heat-resistant enough for that. You'd probably need several strands, but the future is looming closer every day indeed!

[@arkivx0]

One step closer to the space elevator, nice work.

[@TheColoradoJerk]

How much/long did it cost to make?

[@kal7861]

One step closer to the Iron Man suit, could be used as a secondary layer under the armor, to absorb impact and protect the wearer from shock, multiple layers could be used to maximise effectiveness. Now we just need propulsion, and that's already in the works and that damn power source large enough to operate the suit (biggest problem). Tractor beams are in the works, reversing the effect shouldn't be too difficult, as light natively pushes things away.

[@Klimbo93]

is it actually carbon fibers, instead of CNTs?

[@CUBETechie]

Can we make a coil out of nanotubes and test it with electricity. will this had electro magnetic field ?

[@AbstergoView]

Ok, so they use Chlorosulfonic acid to make this liquid to make strings of nanotubes. They show the nanotubes which I presume are still mixed with the acid going through water to make a string. But Chlorosulfonic acid is reactive with water. Is this also still pure nanotubes?

[@Qaraque]

Multi-wall or single wall?

[@huynhkimthach2521]

How about combination of Carbon Nanotube and Poly-Acrylonitrile to produce a cheaper carbon fibre?

[@MrCheatAk]

can anyone give a link to an article? I'd like to see method and strength tests with results

[@ww9578]

Yeah I can.

[@rinkia]

I've read a single armchair SWNT has incredible theorical values in a tensile stress test. But now a real test is impossible. Is it possible to know how strong is this cable? P.S. Complimenti al Dott. Pasquali!!!!

[@triathryn]

Where can you buy the fiber?

[@ibrahimkocaalioglu]

Are you planning to design cnt based electric motor.

[@AotO_DJ]

I was looking for the experiment done at Wheat University... Why did I even end up here?

[@yeah9071]

wasn't it supposed to be like 100 times stronger than steel? That would mean that 1 string like that could hold like 20kg atleast. not 50 grams

[@NewfieRoseWine]

+8bit chess Here is a review highlighting the strength of carbon nanotube yarn pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/nn5045504

[@kristopherwhitehead9693]

+YEAH Think about it like this. If you had a thin string of steel, same thickness essentially. Would it even hold 50grams?

[@yeah9071]

+Kristopher Whitehead It definitely would

[@yeah9071]

+Kristopher Whitehead Even a regular sewing thread as thin as that would be able to hold 25 grams easily. Btw it was 2 strings of nanotubes to hold 50 grams. This presentetion is less than impressive.

[@blaze12256]

+yeah Well sewing thread is incredibly thick compared to 2 String of nano tubes, String can be over 100,000 atoms thick; While Carbon nano tubes can be only a few atoms in diameter. Considering this amazing difference is thickness, Carbon nano tubes have extraordinary strength.

[@sc657953]

I wonder how strong of electromagnet that could make

Forgot to ask: If it is used for clothing, how likely is it that i get electrocuted when working with eg computer parts ? Never liked silk, kevelar do not breeth, this is a new alternative for my privates ;D

[@fredborne90]

were can you buy them

[@rsoss92js]

Could this be used for localised treatment of illnesses? You know, because its a nanotube...

[@Xecoda]

I wonder how well it does with abrasion

[@AkashMishra23]

it's applications are so wide, ambitious and has the power to change entire industries and even the world as we know it, it's kinda scary

[@SinanAkkoyun]

Where can we buy it?

[@merchdesign618]

heated clothing ?

[@marcuspinson]

while they where doing this biologists where actually messing with spider silk proteins and by doing so already had developed a far more sustainable and scale-able process in which to grow the fibers in a single continuous strand and spin them together into a cable all during the same process.

[@zkiller142]

Amazing

[@lornemalvo2250]

Have you done a tensile strength test on the nanotube fiber?

[@larochellet]

Hello Yes, Carbon nanotube fibers and yarns can reach 1 Gpa . watch this video from DexMat to learn more dexmat.com/resources/how-to-videos/carbon-nanotube-yarn-tensile-test/

[@maracachucho8701]

What I want is a sample of that thread to do my own testing. That would seriously make me giggle like a little girl.

[@HomegrownTyrone]

Has anything been made with this yet?

[@unit411]

arnt they toxic to be putting into clothing ?

[@lorez201]

This is in my home city! Houston has claim to fame yet!

[@Lithae]

Please, please, we need some commercial clothing/textile companies to manufacture carbon nanotube fiber fabric and clothing on a larger scale (or any scale at all). I've waited way too long to be able to wear carbon nanotubes already and have been watching the advancements the past 5 years like a hawk, and now finally we can mass produce the fiber, but it's not revolutionizing daily life like it should (not just for semi-cosmetic uses like clothing, of course, that's just a personal wish). It has so many qualities and uses for daily life that could completely change just about everything we make, do, wear, use... I feel like I've never been so distressed about something in my life. Are people just not aware that carbon nanotubes exist at all? I feel like aside from it's amazing uses in science and technology advancement, space engineering uses, etc, that it is probably the most beautiful substance to exist. That blacker than black look, it is literally the perfect standard for a material. And I can say beyond any sort of doubt, if you sold bolts of the fabric for use as a textile, you could probably fund any sort of uses for scientific purposes you could think of. I think especially high fashion would have a very particular interest in it's qualities. And those people sell single items for millions of dollars. I still find it strange that even carbon fiber is hard to find like this, such an untapped field.

[@cj-seejay-cj-seejay]

I was thinking the same thing!

[@KuramaKitsune1]

Serenity Lithae what do you think a 100% tube tee weigh?

[@Chaos------]

Using it as normal clothing or clothing with gawdy looking LED's attached to it is the single dumbest fucking thing I could imagine using it for.

[@Frankthetank0310]

i think they know how to control it but im not sure. what I read said they could decide what characteristics are shown. but I don't know how effectively they can control the characteristics.

[@davidsirmons]

What is the strength level of this fiber per thickness? 1/16" , 1/8" etc.?

[@larochellet]

Hi, CNT yarns and fibers can reach strengths up to 1 Gpa. : dexmat.com/resources/how-to-videos/carbon-nanotube-yarn-tensile-test/

[@pak56h]

The wire does not look that strong from the video. What is the ultimate strength in tension you achieved?

[@murve784]

I've read elsewhere that the material has a tensile strength of about 126GPa, very impressive! Obviously methods of winding, alignment would effect this figure.

[@larrymonson963]

Has any one tried to use the fiber in 3d printing? It would be interesting to know if the media can be bonded to parallel fibers. Or can the extrusion process its self be adapted to the print head on the printer?

[@Nodoubtingthomas]

+Larry Monson that would be something wouldn't it? Imagine three dimensional printing a stealth fighter on a large scale haha.

[@davidsirmons]

One company actually did find a way to incorporate unbroken graphene wire into printed metal objects. The strength was a good bit higher than without. It's a half-measure, but it's a start at least.

[@prafullagartaula123]

so how far are we from inventing space elevator? and concerning environment, is it biodegradable?

[@marcferretti]

Prafulla Gartaula not nearly strong enough for a space elevator. No material that is strong enough exists and probably never will. I’m not assuming I read this

[@Dave4000]

The safer alternative to asbestos e.g. fireproofing? Could this stuff make buildings rodent-proof?

[@iamcat4623]

Have also sold it now.

[@sahinyasar9119]

please use this as cable for Tesla tower I just want to know how much frequency can handle with that tower

[@ahmedace4911]

Mmm... Can the nanotubes make electromagnets??

[@jansenart0]

I wonder what the street value of that spool would be.

[@greenthizzle4]

Joshua Jansen me too, I wish to buy it

[@greenthizzle4]

I just found their website that sells it, it's hella expensive

[@greenthizzle4]

Dexmat dot com

[@futurestar3348]

Well the carbon tubes at the nano level have a cloud of electrons around and the electrons are what the electricity runs through.

[@maracachucho8701]

Hard numbers and everything should be in the paper, which is 20 bucks for non-members. Still, the report says it has 10 times the tensile strength of steel. Which steel? What does the stress vs strain graph showed up? You weren't expecting to find that in a youtube video, were you?

[@coolnessmortezchannel9216]

What’s the conductivity vs copper ? How does it handle heat ? Could this replace copper?

[@larochellet]

Copper is more electrically conductive but CNT fibers are more thermally conductive dexmat.com/resources/how-to-videos/dexmat-carbon-nanotube-yarn-will-it-burn/

[@alexalder2600]

how do i make them?

[@unvergebeneid]

So how long are the individual nanotubes that make up the thread?

[@unvergebeneid]

***** You still have to twine them to make a yarn. The shorter the individual pieces are, the more you need to make them hold together. If the thread is as thin as it could be. But you're probably right in that they are quite short and therefore much weaker than they could be.

[@iambilly610]

Does anyone know how i can get ahold of a few spools? This stuff could revolutionize ballistic protection.

[@wades623]

ar500 clams they already made some out of them

[@wades623]

+wades623 claims*

[@marcferretti]

I bet you can buy it online but it’s going to be rediculously expensive

[@Ramiromasters]

It doesn't seem to be exhibiting particular strength or conductivity, probably the molecular bonds between tubes are just average carbon bonds...

[@davidsirmons]

...carbon being exceptional in both strength and conductivity.

[@balls7054]

Chlorosulfonic acid?

[@user-ok7nw3hd4k]

Hi, I am manufacturing a product that could use this material, but I am needing something much finer, nearly invisible, is this possible with this material? I would be happy to send you a sample of my product if you guys can try it out and see how it works, I currently am using nylon, but maybe this is much better?

[@larochellet]

Hi, I came across your comment and wanted to know if you are still working on this project. Do you need the material to be conductive Visit Dexmat.com to learn more

[@Dragon90815a]

Granny's nano-trend she'll need a new pair of glasses for that one

[@dangoe9908]

What is the estimated computed the surface area?

[@averychurch3898]

Considering that the material they use was tens of nanometers thick, and spun 50 meters, and my estimate is that it's 100,000,000 times thinner than the length if it's a traditional carbon nanotube (which it probably isn't, rendering the calculations wrong), the dimensions should be 0.000025 meters squared, considering that it's 50 meters long and 500 nanometers (m*10^-9) thick.

[@MrBluemoonhalos]

Is this made out of Graphene?

[@larochellet]

Hi No this is made out of high quality source nanotubes . Learn more about products that can be made from this here : dexmat.com/resources/how-to-videos/raw-carbon-nanotubes-vs-dexmat-material/

[@Quantm179]

Run a current through the spool! OMG I was waiting for that the whole video! If it is a better conductor than gold, lighter and thinner, and your spooling it ! It is going to make awesome electromagnets! Revolutionize the size and power of motors.

[@meganbailey4188]

yep

[@greenthizzle4]

If I'm not mistaken it's about the same conductivity as copper.. and so you're aware gold is actually a worse electrical conductor then copper, silver is actually better then copper though

[@rorypenstock1763]

@Karol Palazej You could put lacquer on it, like they do for copper solenoids

[@Frankthetank0310]

nanotubes are extremely more conductive than copper. look it up. it is extremely conductive based upon how you arrange the atoms

[@Wirel2049]

How to combine them into a rope? I have a jar of nanotubes (50g).

[@altarofdisgrace9741]

you cant, without advanced tech

[@Wirel2049]

So I ask - how. I have the technology.

[@nimajneb02]

So if it can be dissolved in a solution, does this mean it is recyclable? And if so, does it loose any strength? Because this is the big problem with materials like carbon fiber.

[@rasberryjam2178]

What problem are you talking about with carbon fiber?

[@hunted4blood]

Carbon fiber is practically impossible to recycle.

[@CometLol]

this will be much stronger and efficient than steel

[@MaratBikmullin]

It is revolution in elektrotechnik!!!

[@WanderTheNomad]

Hmm this was posted 8 years ago... I wonder where it's at now. If it's being used for anything practical or still be improved upon.

[@C--A]

The researchers at Rice University now have there own company DexMat where consumers and manufacturers can buy their carbon nanotube fiber products.

[@TheLawnWanderer]

i expect at least to find information on this somewhere.

[@KuramaKitsune1]

When can I get a shirt of this thread, and what would it cost, And theoretically, what would it weigh?

[@KuramaKitsune1]

+A. D. assuming I'm a Saudi Arabian oil baron who already owns t shirts and clothing made of finely spun gold theoretically what would this cost?

[@KuramaKitsune1]

+A. D. do you have any type of per weight or per thread length monetary estimate?

[@MrDisgruntledGamer1]

I keep hearing how strong carbon nanotube fibers are but im yet to actually see a strand of it do something incredible like a single hair sized strand tied to two cars driving in opposite directions

[@sempertard]

Carbon nanotube clothes. Taser proof!! I smell a marketing opportunity.

[@OmidKRad]

This is where we were in creating carbon nanotube fibers just one year ago. Actually this video was published 365 days ago, and it would be interesting to see where it goes in 2014 and beyond.

[@reizinhodojogo3956]

already 2022

[@viciadoemhalo3]

Does this thing burn?

[@MrBrew4321]

Even diamond burns.. so yeah probably.. under oxygen and high temp.

[@larochellet]

dexmat.com/resources/how-to-videos/dexmat-carbon-nanotube-yarn-will-it-burn/

[@kotarokojima6305]

can you produce cable to make space elevator

[@kotarokojima6305]

lol

[@ExtantFrodo2]

+kotaro kojima Not with fibers assembled from short nanotubes. We have to learn how to manufacture continuous tubes that are at least many meters long.

[@ExtantFrodo2]

Faris Zaibaq "since nanotube manufacturing processes are flawed at the moment, you will inevitably end up with a bad tube in your fibre." True no matter how advanced you manufacturing processes are. However if/when you employ quality control (testing them and passing only good ones) Your yield will be smaller but adequate to the task. Inferior nanotubes can still be useful for other products.

[@ihaiacrookes5380]

Would they be able to grow around a steel helix tube, I also have a carbon fibre helix tube?

[@treatb09]

cool, where can i buy this thread?

[@treatb09]

i'd also like options in nano tube count/thickness of the thread. if i want a 3 nanotube count thread can that be done?

[@larochellet]

Hi, If you are still interested in trying some thread like this visit DexMat.com store.dexmat.com/

[@Antimidation]

I just have a few questions, i don't know the physical properties of carbon nano tubes per-say but I do know them to be a lot stronger than what is shown here...in fact, famous physicist Machio Kaku offered up a comparison of just how strong nano tubes are by using this example; If you were to place a single layer of carbon nano tubes out into a sheet and then place a pencil point fist into the nano tubes, then place an elephant on the pencil it still wouldn't break. Now that seems thousands of times more impressive than them demonstrating thread holding up a light bulb and a steel spool. Am i missing something here physics wise? I heard we were at least 10 years away from finding ways of mass producing carbon nano tubes....in fact Machio Kaku said we are only able to make about 3 inch long section and that's it. When did we find ways of producing these tubes at such a high rate? Are these not complete nano tubes?

[@oim8254]

Go Google and KZbin search AR500 Carbon Nanotube Level IIIA soft armor plates. You'll see the results.

[@coolnessmortezchannel9216]

I think this is different than Graphene. Yeah

[@igot2remember]

Anyone know where i can i buy a yarn of carbon nanotube.

[@larochellet]

Hi, You can buy some CNT yarn here : store.dexmat.com/

[@jessechen998]

Can it be mass produced right now?

[@mikalaipaulau9044]

yes, it can be produced

[@bb22sw22hk22ck22]

Mikalai Paulau Where can I purchase Nano Thread for Research and Development?

[@mikalaipaulau9044]

I know one producer that is in the project. But I'm not sure about his detailed specification. Can you send me email?

[@larochellet]

​@@bb22sw22hk22ck22 Hi, If you are still interested in trying some thread like this visit DexMat.com store.dexmat.com/

[@hiddencloudninja]

It would be cool if we could make a self assembling version rather than using a "heat, beat & treat" method

[@nikitamihailow5948]

видел на дискавери?

[@MysticalDork]

I doubt it, having better strength is not required for electric motors, and the conductivity of carbon nanotubes is doubtless lower than that of similar-size copper wire. The emerging tech that will make motors super-efficient is high-temperature (hopefully room-temperature at some point in the future) superconductors.

[@stevenw28]

Nanotubes are expensive. $2/gram when you order more than 100kg. or $35/gram sample size. Do the math for 100kg....$$$$$.... What acid did you dissolve the CNT's in? And is that the "mayonnaise" viscous material or is that a resin your extruding with CNT"s dispersed in that. I'm trying to make a fiber from raw SWCNT's and trying to decide what resin to use and what spinneret and how thick to make them.

[@webertheo5448]

good question i got the same idea (to replicate their process in a crud way), but i can hear the name of the acid they used

[@Enzoael]

chlorosulfonic acid also known as chlorosulfuric acid.

[@MarkleZephire]

that's immediately what I thought :)

[@Arguingmachinery]

I can finally meet Tali...

[@Ramiromasters]

You are right, they have the right idea of how to bundle them but they have barely tapped about 1/100000 of its true potential (that the public knows off...).

[@DeathGhost809]

if i tried to cut it with a knife, it will be cut?

[@bobbyb9258]

medo sam that would be extremely painful.

[@DeathGhost809]

for who?

[@bobbyb9258]

for you.

[@DeathGhost809]

why?

[@muhamadrafiqinrazali5746]

medo sam it won't be able to be cut due to extreme strength of the nanotube bonds.

[@NASAgeek321]

Make a Space Elevator, now!