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Name: Yevgeniy
Status: other
Grade: other
Location: NY
Country: USA
Date: Summer 2009
Question:
What is the strength of carbon nanotubes under compression? I read that carbon nanotubes are 100 times stronger then steel under tension, and weaker under compression, are they still stronger then steel under compression, if so, by how much?

Replies:
As found in:

http://prola.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v81/i8/p1638_1

Compressive strength of carbon nanotubes is ~60GPa.

Hope this helps,
Burr Zimmerman

Hi Yevgeniy,

Carbon nanotubes are indeed extraordinarily strong in tension, but in compression they are no stronger than many other substances. Part of this problem may be due to the long and very narrow construction which makes them act rather like what you would expect a noodle to act like in compression; that is, the nanotube (or the noodle) readily buckle under compression.

Regards,
Bob Wilson


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