Helicoid Surface for Nanotubes?


Hi, I'd like you to read this:

http://www.physorg.com/news7778.html

I'm wondering if this revelation of the helicoid as a minimal surface
could be used to help intertwine nanotubes, to make stronger nanotube
composites.

We know that helical conformations of nanotubes are less likely to
suffer slippage relative to a surrounding matrix. We also know that
surfactants can be used to manipulate nanotubes, as in traditional
fiber spinning.

Now surfactants are most easily arranged in a thin 2D-planar layer, but
but what if you could then twist that planar shape to have the
surfactant assume twisted helicoidal shape, while loaded with
nanotubes.

Couldn't this be used as a way to ensure the adoption of the helical
conformation by the nanotubes, to give them the better matrix
reinforcement properties?

Comments?


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