New carbon fibres

[Brian Ellis]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7038702.stm

Even though the article has all the defects of a popular science medium, it sounds interesting.

[Dr Mordrid]

Besides the expected applications this is just what the space elevator guys have been waiting for. Now, if only they can make it economically viable because that app will require enough to reach from an equatorial base to a geostationary orbit.

[cjolley]

Besides the expected applications this is just what the space elevator guys have been waiting for. Now, if only they can make it economically viable because that app will require enough to reach from an equatorial base to a geostationary orbit.

You read my mind.

[Mehen]

sweet, I bet they'll be makin' hockey sticks outta the stuff in no time

[Dr Mordrid]

Arrow shafts & bow limbs too.

[TransformX]

Gold and Tennis will come first me thinks.

[Marshmallowman]

its a fibre with mainly tensile strength, so unless you know how to weave a hockey stick

[Dr Mordrid]

Same goes for the carbon fibers used now. Wrap it on a shaped mandrel or part, add resin and POOF!

[Marshmallowman]

doh

[Elie]

Cars should be made of this

[Dr Mordrid]

Don't laugh, carbon fiber parts are coming and these would be an evolution of that down the road.

Also coming is the elimination of glass from car windows and the replacement of same and body panels with polycarbonate.

GE and others have come out with windows that have thin layers of glass bonded inside and out with the polycarbonate as the core. Advantages: light weight, UV and IR opaque and they still have 'glass' surfaces for durability and scratch resistance.

Similar changes are coming with polycarbonate body panels that are almost dent proof but have a thick color layer that can be rubbed out.

Look for both in GM's cars, especially the Volt which may have a full length sunroof as either a standard feature or an option.