The toughest known fibre has been created from graphene and carbon nanotubes, exceeding the toughness of spun spider silk and Kevlar.
A new study published in the current issue of Nature Communications by an international team of scientists describes the creation of a new fibre that far exceeds any known tough material. It was produced by combining reduced graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes. The researchers suggest that these fibres could potentially be used in bullet-proof vests and reinforcements for advanced composite materials used in the construction of aircraft.
"We were able to find the 'magic ratio' of equal parts of carbon nanotubes and graphene added to polymer that worked really well and we produced really tough fibres," said co-author of the study and polymer scientist Geoff Spinks from the University of Wollongong in New South Wales.
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