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Researchers from Rice University in Houston, Texas, have discovered a new carbon supermaterial that is stronger and stiffer than graphene and diamonds: carbyne.
The new material it’s a chain of carbon atoms linked either by alternate triple and single bonds, or just by consecutive double bonds. And it’s quite something.
Based on the scientists’ mathematical models, carbyne not only is stronger than both graphene and diamond, but also it’s around twice as stiff as the stiffest known materials. It’s also fairly flexible — somewhere between a typical polymer and double-stranded DNA. And when twisted, it can either rotate freely or become remain stiff depending on the chemical group attached to its end.
The truth is that carbyne has been around for a while, but this is the first time academics have theorized its properties when exposed to tension, bending and twisting.
If carbyne’s predicted properties can actually put to use, graphene — the strongest material in existence—may just have had its day.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
7 Comments
Stephen Suley
Using a new carbyne cable(s) system maybe it’s possible for a space elevator after all.
petsynot
Stephen, i’m surprised no-one has built an inter-orbit elevator yet. We have strong enough materials now to start experimenting, even if we need to wait a while for the big one. I foresee tethered satellites far enough apart to permit a growing number of stationary retransmitters. Not that we will ever put an elevator that far, though it would need to be way past there if our elevator were to be geostationary. But with ever-stronger materials … Who knows?
petsynot
Been considering a double-linked carbon monoatomic filament within a graphene nanotube as a torsion strengthener. Enormous potential, if buildable, and depending on termination material, which has to bond at least indirectly with the nanotube ends. Exciting potential.
Frankinca
Just imagine how much money could be made using the material in condoms. It blows my mind!
sailormac
Left ball go mmmm, condom go mmmm, right ball go pop !!
(Punchline to a teenage boy joke)
Odo Shortwick
New uses:
1) Golf clubs
2) Fishing Rods
Nicovar
“Never mind”! Carbyne is exothermically unstable (explosive): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_acetylenic_carbon