Quote:
Originally Posted by Christ
Carbon Nanotubes are also purportedly stronger than steel in certain configurations, and have been considered as a sort of "space elevator" mechanism, by which objects could be hoisted into space via a machine that would scale a "rope" suspended by a satellite object.
I'll have to find a reference for that, I'm sure.
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Yes, the carbon nanotubes themselves are way stronger than steel.
But, to make the "space elevator", more a thin ribbon than a "rope" they are used in a binding matrix.
Much like glass fibers are used in a polymer matrix for fiber glass.
The weak point is the binding matrix.
At the present time we can not make a macro-scale nanotube that would be composed of only nanotube structured carbon.
Just to widen the discussion carbon isn't the only element to form nanotubes.
Also related check out graphene.