Apr. 4, 2016

Robert Clark, an adjunct professor of mathematics at Widener University from Philadelphia, believes that if his hypotheses are correct, carbon nanotubes can be tied together to produce a longer product that could revolutionize 21st century technology, from the creation of the space elevator to private orbital rockets and even ‘flying’ cars. He has started a crowdfunding campaign with Indiegogo titled Nanotech: from air to space to help raise the funds needed to test his theories as to how these nanotubes could be joined together.

According to Clark, carbon nanotubes have remarkable properties in the small samples that have been produced, such as being 100 times stronger than steel, and having 1,000 times higher current carrying capacity than metals.
“The main problem is they have not been able to be produced at arbitrarily long lengths,” said Clark. “At most they have been produced at a few centimeter lengths. I have raised the possibility we might simply be able to tie together existing nanotubes to produce arbitrary long lengths. While some researchers have tested this, they have used some of the simplest and weakest knots. I want to conduct experiments that use the strongest knots and other options for joining the nanotubes.”

Clark’s proposed experiment, which is patent pending, would be to test using the various types of strong knots, some at 80-90 percent of the strength of the component ropes, to see if they are also able to maintain the strength of the carbon nanotubes. The experiment would require the rental of a machine for handling objects at the nanoscale called the Nanomanipulator™. It would also require hiring technicians skilled in its use.
If he raises sufficient funds, Clark also looks to explore another patent pending idea for joining nanotubes together using a nanoscale diamond. His idea is to generate the nanoscale diamonds around the ends of two nanotubes placed close to each other, connecting them.

“If these methods succeed, then it will change the construction and technology industries,” said Clark. “We’d potentially have materials for construction hundreds of times stronger than steel.”
Learn more about Clark’s research and the possibilities for technological advances if carbon nanotubes can be created at longer lengths through his blog http://exoscientist.blogspot.com .
Clark welcomes comments and questions from individuals interested in contributing to his crowdfunding campaign to support his research. He is also interested in hearing from researchers who may want to collaborate on carrying out his proposed experiments.