Electrospinning/Electrospray
Carbon Nanofiber Makes Smart Yarn
Carbon Nanofiber Makes Smart Yarn By Bill Christensenposted: 24 November 2004 01:49 pm ET |
Science fiction writer Neal Stephenson wrote about arachnofiber uniforms in his 1992 novel Snow Crash. These bulletproof and lightweight uniforms were worn by the Deliverators, the world's best pizza delivery guys. Carbon nanofiber can now be spun like yarn to make an amazing variety of new inventions possible, including lightweight bulletproof uniforms.
Among the many possibilities:
The researchers created the yarn by growing a mat of fibres on a substrate, called a nanotube forest. A sharp, pointed instrument then pulled at the fibres along the plane of the substrate.
Atkinson said the tubes then formed into a "conga line" and were twisted and wrapped around each other as they were pulled. If you are interested in how technology is producing science-fictional clothing, take a look at Scentsory Chameleon Bodysuit: Biometric Fashion. Bulletproof vests and body armor tends to be rigid - but not Liquid Body Armor in Two Flavors - Shear Thickening and Magnetorheological. (This Science Fiction in the News story used with permission from Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction.) |