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November 19, 2012

Artificial Muscles Made from Nanotube Yarn

Belle Dume, Physics World


AP Photo

An international team of researchers led by Ray Baughman of the University of Texas at Dallas has developed a new type of artificial muscle made from a "yarn" of twisted carbon-nanotube threads infused with wax. The new actuator structures are different from previously made devices in that they do not need an external electrolyte to function. The muscles can lift more than 100,000 times their own weight, can contract and expand extremely quickly and can operate over a wide temperature range.

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TAGGED: materials science, nanotubes, carbon nanotubes

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