Can Nanotubes Revolutionize Lubricants and Bearings?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Erich
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Bearing Magnetic
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the potential of nanotubes and related nanomaterials as innovative solutions for lubricants and bearings. Participants explore the properties of nanotubes, including their stiffness and rigidity, and reference ongoing research in the field.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that testers have struggled to create enough friction in lubricants containing nanotubes to produce measurable damage, suggesting a performance level comparable to magnetic bearings.
  • Another participant proposes that nanotubes, along with buckyballs and nano disks, could serve as excellent lubricants due to their unique properties.
  • A participant shares a link to an article discussing nanotubes and expresses interest in the topic.
  • There is mention of research being conducted at UNC Chapel Hill regarding nanotubes, indicating ongoing exploration in this area.
  • One participant provides a description of nanotubes, highlighting their dimensions and the method of their creation, emphasizing their strength and stiffness compared to other materials.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express interest in the potential applications of nanotubes but do not reach a consensus on their effectiveness or the implications of the research mentioned. Multiple viewpoints and ongoing inquiries remain present.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about the properties of nanotubes depend on specific definitions and conditions that are not fully explored in the discussion. The effectiveness of nanotubes as lubricants is still under investigation, and the limitations of current testing methods are acknowledged.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to researchers and professionals in materials science, engineering, and lubrication technology, as well as those exploring innovative applications of nanotechnology.

Erich
Messages
18
Reaction score
0
Dear Folks:

The line in this article about testers being " simply unable to create enough friction in the lubricant to produce measurable damage - even when trial durations were increased severely beyond specifications", makes this sound as good as a magnetic bearing.

Israel21c

Erich
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
i saw something about nano tubes and buckey balls recently , it occurred to me that it would make an excellent lubricant..they even had nano disks .. anyway the nano tubes are supposed to be the stiffist, must rigid substance known to man..
 
Last edited:
Heres a link to the full article:

http://israel21c.org/bin/en.jsp?enDispWho=Articles%5El866&enSearchQueryID=25&enPage=BlankPage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=object&enVersion=0&enZone=Technology&

Very interesting indeed.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks for finding the article in question..
it was very interesting.
i also read somewhere that UNC chapel hill is working on them also..
 
Last edited:
this is from the article i was reading..

A form of soot, nanotubes are created by arcing electricity between two sticks of carbon. They measure 10 to 30 nanometers in diameter and about one to five millionths of a meter long. Little more than a decade ago, a Japanese scientist discovered the tiny tubes, which are proving to be stiffer and stronger than any other known substance.

http://www.3rdtech.com/NanoManipulator_Nov28_News.htm
 

Similar threads

Replies
9
Views
4K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
7K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
12K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
5K
  • · Replies 44 ·
2
Replies
44
Views
21K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
5K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
7K
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K