• Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
• [ Next ][ Previous ]

Which of these three (or something else?) would be the best material to use in a cable if the strength per unit weight is the only consideration (i.e., with molecular nanotechnology the material is 'free'):

• diamond
• carbon again, but in the form of a superfullerene ( > 60 carbon atoms ). A few extra carbons elongate the famous soccer ball shape somewhat. In extreme cases they form long tubes which have the advantage that they close themselves if broken. The tubes look like chicken wire (graphite sheets?) rolled up. I read one claim that these would make the strongest cable that it would ever be possible to make, better than diamond.
• C3N4: this crystal may be harder than diamond, but would it outperform diamond in terms of strength too? I gather that hardness means that the atoms can't be compacted further, which doesn't imply that the bonds are especially strong under tension (= brittleness?).

Just curious.

Sean Morgan (morgan@skyler.arc.ab.ca)

• [ Next ][ Previous ]