Nano Armor

[Todg]

New developments in body armor.

http://www.isracast.com/tech_news/091205_tech.htm

 

[RainOfSteel]

Now we just have to wait for some product to actually be based on it.

 

[Uncle Bob]

Interesting that the inorganic fullerines have great strength, but less than true carbon fullerines. Also no mention of other fullerine behavior, like superconductivity.

 

[Anthony]

Well, straight C60 isn't a superconductor; fullerene superconductors are doped with other elements. Not surprising that strength to weight ratios are lower than carbon; carbon-carbon covalent bonds are very strong, and carbon has a low atomic weight, so many carbon compounds are extraordinarily strong for their weight.

 

[Uncle Bob]

True, not superconductive without doping. It ismore conductive (electrically and thermally) than some metals. "Highly conductive" would have been a much better choice of words.

 

[Gnusam Netor]

I think fullerene-tubes or nanotubes are electricaly-conductive on their own, IIRC a good candidate for room-temp superconductivity.