Macroscopic invisible cables

作者：Pugno Nicola M^*

来源：Microsystem Technologies, 2009, 15(1): 175-180.

DOI：10.1007/s00542-008-0653-9

Spiders suggest to us that producing high strength over density ratio invisible cables could be of great importance. In this paper we show that such invisible cables could in principle be built, thanks to carbon nanotube bundles. Theoretical strength of similar to 10 MPa, Young's modulus of similar to 0.1 GPa and density of similar to 0.1 Kg/m(3) are estimated. The theoretical strength over density ratio is huge, i.e. that of a single carbon nanotube; the strength of a real, thus defective, invisible cable is estimated to be similar to 1 MPa. Finally, we demonstrate that such cables can be easily transported in their visible state (with bunched nanotubes) and that an efficient anti-bunching controllable mechanism, involving pressure of similar to 1 Pa, can control the visible-invisible transition, and vice versa.

• 出版日期2009-1