Cambridge devices lightweight but super-strong carbon fibre
31 Oct '07
3 min read
The method for making the fibre is simple but ingenious.
A hydrocarbon feedstock, such as ethanol, is injected into the furnace along with a small amount of iron-based catalyst.
Inside the furnace, this feedstock is broken down into hydrogen and carbon. The carbon is then chemically 're-built' on particles of iron catalyst as long, thin-walled nanotubes.
Professor Windle describes further, it makes particles of carbon that are like smoke. But because the nanotubes are entangled, the smoke is elastic. To the eye, this 'elastic smoke' looks like an ever-expanding dark 'sock'.
To begin winding it up, a rod is inserted into the furnace from below to grab one end of the sock and yank it down. This stretches the sock into a filament that can be wound up continuously on a reel.
However, researchers are currently seeking funds to investigate whether the method can be upgraded from a laboratory to an industrial process.
It has now granted a licence to Q-Flo Limited, a university spin-out company, which will exploit the technology.
Nanotubes are made by taking individual graphite layers and folding them over so they join at either edge to form cylinders.
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