Nanotubes
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are an allotrope of carbon. They take the form of cylindrical carbon molecules and have novel properties that make them potentially useful in a wide variety of applications in nanotechnology, electronics, optics and other fields of materials science. They exhibit extraordinary strength and unique electrical properties, and are efficient conductors of heat. Inorganic nanotubes have also been synthesized.
Nanotubes are members of the fullerene structural family, which also includes buckyballs. Whereas buckyballs are spherical in shape, a nanotube is cylindrical, with at least one end typically capped with a hemisphere of the buckyball structure. Their name is derived from their size, since the diameter of a nanotube is on the order of a few nanometers (approximately 50,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair), while they can be up to several millimeters in length. There are two main types of nanotubes: single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) and multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs).
The nature of the bonding of a nanotube is described by applied quantum chemistry, specifically, orbital hybridization. Nanotubes are composed entirely of sp2 bonds, similar to those of graphite. This bonding structure, which is stronger than the sp3 bonds found in diamond, provides the molecules with their unique strength. Nanotubes naturally align themselves into “ropes” held together by Van der Waals forces.
Dr. Cetiner’s Blogs » Blog Archive » Seminar about Nanotechnology at King Abdulaziz University said,
January 10, 2007 @ 9:55 am
[…] It is about the Damascus Swords or Damascus Steel. As we know from the history, the Damascus Swords are very famous with sharpness and hardness as well as flexibility. We also know that Salahaddin Ayyubi won the battle against crusading Christian knights who were reclaiming Jerusalem from the Muslims. These damascus swords were containing nanotubes or nanotechnology according to the claim in seminar. I have made a quick search and found interesting articles about these Damascus Swords using Nanotechnology. […]
Dr. Cetiner’s Blogs » Blog Archive » Nanotechnology used in Damascus Swords said,
January 10, 2007 @ 10:20 am
[…] The nanotubes, which are remarkably strong, run through the blade’s softer steel, likely making it more resilient. (Related: “Nano-Switches Could Yield Even Smaller Gadgets” [August 16, 2005].) […]