Rice
University’s fluorescent nanotube coating can reveal stress on planes, bridges,
buildings.
(June 22, 2012) A new type of paint made with carbon nanotubes at Rice
University can help detect strain in buildings, bridges and airplanes.
The Rice
scientists call their mixture “strain paint” and are hopeful it can help detect
deformations in structures like airplane wings. Their study, published online
this month by the American Chemical Society journal Nano Letters details a
composite coating they invented that could be read by a handheld infrared
spectrometer.
This method
could tell where a material is showing signs of deformation well before the
effects become visible to the naked eye, and without touching the structure.
The researchers said this provides a big advantage over conventional strain
gauges, which must be physically connected to their read-out devices. In
addition, the nanotube-based system could measure strain at any location and
along any direction.