Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon Nanotubes are basically graphite molecule rolled into tubes at molecular level. Like diamond molecules, this form of carbon becomes very strong. The potential application is endless. Scientists are tailor making materials that don't exist in nature.


It is still unknown if these are safe. First thing comes to mind is whether this is as hazardous as asbestos. It is tiny, it is tough, it is pointy. If you inhaled some into your lungs by accident. They will probably be lodged in there for life, assuming you still can have a long life after that.

Note that carbon fiber is not the same as carbon nanotubes.

For a competing strong lightweight material, see Spider Silk at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYlkJyG1Oik

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Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Carbon Nanotubes
• man-made material
• strong lightweight material
• nanotechnology
• high technology
• material science
• 碳纳米管

[gmherne1]

Maybe our bodies should learn how to adjust instead

[cplai]

@gmherne1 I don't think so. Carbon nanotube is probably one of the strongest and most chemically inert material you can encounter due to its molecular structure. If these microscopic fibers are lodged into the air ducts in our lungs. It would be a mechanical problem that the body can never adjust to. I would guess the problems and symptoms would be identical to asbestos if not worst.

[pipus4444]

nanotube , dont play with them, wear a mask, and gloves, they are so small you can breath em in , then go in the blood stream and finish their travel in your brain, not ideal, they are so small that the filters of your brain cannot stop the nanotubes !

[cplai]

@pipus4444 I think carbon nanotube is as dangerous as asbestos if not more so. cause lung cancer for sure. This material is so new that no study is available yet, but not difficult to deduce from similar stuffs. Remember how long asbestos was in use before it was banned in the US. Meanwhile asbestos is still mined in Canada as we speak and shipped to third world countries as insulation material. Corporate greed decides that if the laws don't stop them, they don't need to stop harming people.

[dkoribag1]

@cplai Funny, those guys dont seem worried about working with it at all.

[cplai]

@dkoribag1 It takes decades to develop lung cancer and then probably another few decades to prove it is the cause. Though it is as fine and as hard as asbestos, but legally it is still not asbestos so you cannot prove it will cause lung cancer like asbestos. People simply ignore the possibility until it is proven.

[Guyverman01]

They can also be used to make buildings

[A1234567890J1]

@cplai Just hold ur breath.

[mbdulka]

I like how this video makes it look like this guy invented the stuff and it came from Texas -- lol! Thank Britain for them my fellow Americans -- we're behind as usual.

[chibraxial]

"This is plutonium, actually, I shouldn't touch it, because scientists don't know if its toxic yet ! :D "