NationStates Jolt Archive

New Gel is Stronger than Steel (http://tech.uk.msn.com/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=15254795)



Muscle-flexing robots with superhuman strength could become a reality thanks to a new expanding material that is stronger than steel.
Scientists have created a gel that acts like muscle when charged with electricity but is far more powerful.

The "aerogel" is almost as light as air, as stretchy as rubber, and stiffer than steel by weight.

Made with ribbons of carbon "nanotubes" - tiny hollow tubes of carbon - the material can expand to 220% of its original length or width in milliseconds when electrically charged.

The gel sheets are capable of handling dozens of times more stress than natural skeletal muscle, say researchers reporting on the technology in the journal Science. Once "flexed", the material can be "frozen" in place.
The US researchers, led by Dr Ray Baughman, from the University of Texas at Dallas, wrote: "These solid-state fabricated sheets are ... rubbers having gas-like density and specific strength in one direction higher than those of steel plate."

Canadian engineer Dr John Madden, from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, said the material combined the properties of diamonds and rubber.
Currently the ribbons are very stiff in their "stretch" direction but their "transverse" strength is up to a million times weaker.

This ruled out applications requiring "large displacement and any appreciable force". But Dr Madden said the problem might be solved by increasing the ribbon density and interconnections between adjacent fibres.
Writing in Science, he added: "When forces are increased, the ribbon artificial muscles will become candidates for use in medical devices, robots, and perhaps even implants."

So what does the future hold? Will this gel be used in medicine or manufacturing?

Will we have robot bodybuilders?

Will the hair of Guido's become a new murder weapon?!

What will this gel unleash on the world?

There are some vids on youtube of it, like this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHnen2nSmDY

Don't worry the steel industry will come buy it out and make it disappear.

I was going to say "CARBON NANOTUBES!!!" but since this material is made up of them, I can't.

:(

Science, fuck yeah!

Interesting...
Scientists have created a gel that acts like muscle when charged with electricity but is far more powerful.
is it a constant flow of electricity? how much is needed?

With proper planning and design, one could create skivvies that atomic wedgie themselves! :eek:

With proper planning and design, one could create skivvies that atomic wedgie themselves! :eek:

can't be far off. after all, the Massage Pants (http://www.geekologie.com/2008/04/its_about_time_massage_pants_a.php) were invented.

can't be far off. after all, the Massage Pants (http://www.geekologie.com/2008/04/its_about_time_massage_pants_a.php) were invented.

do they give happy endings?

Interesting...
is it a constant flow of electricity? how much is needed?
One of the hundred types of electric actuators in development today. Consumption is usually tolerable, but the force lacks.

They're not very powerful, not as much as conventional linear motors. Venture investment.

This stuff isn't going to replace or even compete with proper industrial equipment anytime soon - and by "soon", I mean within this century - but one of the technologies will eventually filter through to prosthetics applications.

do they give happy endings?

That costs $20 more. ;)

Excellent...one step closer to space elevators.

Holy Hotwife! I can use this in my fauxhawk!

One more step toward giant bipedal battlemechs.

Ugh. I've been reading about aerogel forever, and nothing ever comes of it. It's been 30 years since the press started talking about that stuff, and nothing has happened. Even the 1973 Guiness book of world records buys into the hype. It'll be 2073 before we see any use for it, if then.

Ugh. I've been reading about aerogel forever, and nothing ever comes of it. It's been 30 years since the press started talking about that stuff, and nothing has happened. Even the 1973 Guiness book of world records buys into the hype. It'll be 2073 before we see any use for it, if then.

No, they are actually using the stuff, but it's all small trivial stuff. They arn't building buildings out of it or fireproof suits which is the only thing they talk about whenever it comes up in the news.

I look forward to said skyscrapers melting on sunny days.

I look forward to said skyscrapers melting on sunny days.

Or getting struck by lightning and explosively growing a few hundred feet. ;)

do they give happy endings?

i'd be concerned about any 'shorts' that would occure...

Or getting struck by lightning and explosively growing a few hundred feet. ;)

*ponders the physics*

Wouldn't that also increase it's surface area to the wind by several orders of magnitude? In that case, wouldn't it til over, break loose of its foundations, and land on other buildings?

Or getting struck by lightning and explosively growing a few hundred feet. ;)

Hugh Hefner and Larry Flint are going to race each other to see who can build the biggest tower with this stuff.

Hugh Hefner and Larry Flint are going to race each other to see who can build the biggest tower with this stuff.

... the image of the tower would be... interesting...

No, they are actually using the stuff, but it's all small trivial stuff. They arn't building buildings out of it or fireproof suits which is the only thing they talk about whenever it comes up in the news.

Aye, not much it gets used for, mostly due to price. Apart from, for example, catching dust trails from comets.

*ponders the physics*

Wouldn't that also increase it's surface area to the wind by several orders of magnitude? In that case, wouldn't it til over, break loose of its foundations, and land on other buildings?

Yep. :)

*ponders the physics*

Wouldn't that also increase it's surface area to the wind by several orders of magnitude? In that case, wouldn't it til over, break loose of its foundations, and land on other buildings?

not if the foundation was also made of the same material... then it too would expand at the same rate as the building itself...

which means...
should it crack the underground mains and expose the city's main grid to the gel...

not if the foundation was also made of the same material... then it too would expand at the same rate as the building itself...

which means...
should it crack the underground mains and expose the city's main grid to the gel...

And we aren't even thinking about the people inside. ;)

And we aren't even thinking about the people inside. ;)

Well, using the stairs would be challenging.

And we aren't even thinking about the people inside. ;)

"Is everything getting bigger, or are we getting smaller?"
"Whatever it is... I hate it!"

"Is everything getting bigger, or are we getting smaller?"
"Whatever it is... I hate it!"

I want to give that safety presentation.

"Now, in case of sudden size eruption of the building..."

The "aerogel" is almost as light as air, as stretchy as rubber, and stiffer than steel by weight.

wat.

I want to give that safety presentation.

"Now, in case of sudden size eruption of the building..."

"and for GOD'S Sake, do NOT fall through the cracks..."

The elevators don't work, the stairs are cut off and all the bathrooms are now twenty stories down. Good thing Bob has that potted petunia.

The elevators don't work, the stairs are cut off and all the bathrooms are now twenty stories down. Good thing Bob has that potted petunia.

And I wish the city power station would shut down... we're now jogging a quarter mile just to get to it...

Ugh. I've been reading about aerogel forever, and nothing ever comes of it. It's been 30 years since the press started talking about that stuff, and nothing has happened. Even the 1973 Guiness book of world records buys into the hype. It'll be 2073 before we see any use for it, if then.

It is because the steel industry has shut it down.
Haven't you seen the documentary "Who killed the Gel buildings."

Haven't you seen the documentary "Who killed the Gel buildings."

if only there was some way to gel together the industries

No, they are actually using the stuff, but it's all small trivial stuff. They arn't building buildings out of it or fireproof suits which is the only thing they talk about whenever it comes up in the news.

You're right about that. It's got a few specialized applications. What I meant was that since it was invented in the 1920s or early '30s, it's been periodically hailed as some kind of miracle material that's going to revolutionize the way we do this or build that or some such thing, and it never happens. Now that it's cheaper to produce, though, maybe something will really happen. It's just that the history makes me skeptical.

It is because the steel industry has shut it down.
Haven't you seen the documentary "Who killed the Gel buildings."

Must've missed that one. :p

Aerogel is highly unsuitable as a structural material. It's only "stiffer than steel by weight" because it weighs almost nothing. So an aerogel brick will be stiffer than a thin steel wire. Doesn't make it stiff enough to build stuff out of it, however.

It could be used structurally if the structure was to support nothing but itself. And since that's a bit useless...

You're all missing the structural point, methinks. The strength of the material, as mentioned in the article, is only linear and only in tension, when forces acting on the gel would pull it apart. The gel is useless structurally in any other direction.

Thus, the gel would have to be used wherever steel cords are used and only in situations where tension would be exerted on it. And, considering how many buidlings use steel wire as a structural component to begin with...

However, this only goes for the people being dead serious. I look forward to the days that we can have buildings stretch and fight each other while occupants inside go unharmed or (in the much more fun case) harmed. Plus, it would be neat to see the building flex every time someone touched it or rubbed their hands against it.

However, this only goes for the people being dead serious. I look forward to the days that we can have buildings stretch and fight each other while occupants inside go unharmed or (in the much more fun case) harmed. Plus, it would be neat to see the building flex every time someone touched it or rubbed their hands against it.

I can just imagine skyscrapers twisting into each other with pirates hanging out the windows and swinging swords at the people in the other building! My god! Epic!

Thus, the gel would have to be used wherever steel cords are used and only in situations where tension would be exerted on it. And, considering how many buidlings use steel wire as a structural component to begin with...
Nah, we already have these materials - it's fiberglass, Kevlar and carbon fiber. Fiberglass in particular is about 10 times stronger than steel by weight, doesn't cost all too much, and has been known for seven decades.

The aerogel isn't developed for its strength properties, since it's easier to just take the nanotubes themselves, which are what gives it strength. It's most interesting as an insulator. For instance, you could have vacuum flasks that hold heat as well as glass ones, yet are as durable as steel ones.

I personally find it of most interest as a potential insulator for storage of liquid hydrogen, radically reducing the boiloff. Won't do much for the civilian, but spacecraft and military weapons will appreciate it.

I personally find it of most interest as a potential insulator for storage of liquid hydrogen, radically reducing the boiloff. Won't do much for the civilian, but spacecraft and military weapons will appreciate it.

You don't have your own personal liquid hydrogen stockpile ?!?!?

Umm never mind nothing to see here.