Re: Nanotube Yarn Developed

From: sanman (manofsan_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 11/22/04 

Date: 22 Nov 2004 05:27:24 GMT

Here's another article, with some nifty pics:

http://www.primidi.com/2004/11/19.html

So the article says that this process is using Multi-Wall Nanotubes
(MWNTs), but I thought that it's the Single-Walled Nanotubes (SWNTs)
which are supposed to be better for strength-to-weight ratio. What are
MWNTs good for? Better electrical current transport?

I'm not sure I understand the part they mention about the nanotubes
all falling into a "conga line". Why do they do this? Does it mean
that as soon as each vertical nanotube "tree" is pulled into the
thread, that it somehow attracts its neighbor to be uprooted and
follow behind it? Does that mean there is physical contact between the
plucked nanotube and its following neighbor? Electrostatic attraction
or Van Der Waals forces?

Anyhow, it seems like this process will benefit as the nanotube
forrests are grown ever taller, because then you'll be pulling in ever
longer nanotubes with greater Van Der Waals attractive abilities.