While they may seem small and insignificant, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have recently come into the forefront of automotive engineering innovation. The atoms of these tubes are arranged in a microscopic hexagonal lattice shape, reinforcing their strength and making them highly conductive. Their ability to conserve energy and fuel and absorb pollutants may also have positive environmental implications.
With a legacy of innovation spanning more than 80 years, FCC-NA’s state-of-the-art development and manufacturing expertise ensures exceptional safety, quality, cost-effectiveness, and delivery in our industry-leading clutch solutions. In this blog, we’ll explore what carbon nanotubes can be used for, and how to maximize their effectiveness.
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Types of Carbon Nanotubes
There are two main types of carbon nanotubes: Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) or multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The key to knowing which to use lies in the application.
Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
SWCNTs are prized for their flexibility and conductivity, making them an ideal component in automotive engineering. Some places you may find SWCNTs may include:
- Tires: SWCNTs can improve tire performance by enhancing the tear-resistance and fuel efficiency without changing anything in the manufacturing process.
- Batteries: Due to their high conductivity, SWCNTs can improve electrical conductivity, leading to stronger battery life and an overall improved performance.
- Structural Reinforcement: Since they have a high strength-to-weight ratio, SWCNTs are ideal for reinforcing composite materials in lightweight automotive parts.
Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
MWCNTs are most notably valued for their strength and scalability. Their strength makes these nanotubes ideal for enhancing structural components, and the ability to scale them makes them adaptable to many different automotive applications. You might expect to use MWCNTs for:
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- Reinforcing Materials: When incorporated into polymer composites, MWCNTs can strengthen lightweight automotive components such as body panels and engine housings.
- Increasing Strength: Engine parts require high levels of durability, and MWCNTs can dramatically increase the mechanical properties of the composite parts of the engine.
- Fuel Efficiency: Stronger, reinforced engine parts mean less fuel consumption, and MWCNTs can also improve the overall conductivity of fuel line components, reducing the need for overconsumption.
Structural Properties
Carbon nanotubes have been proven to have incredible mechanical and electrical benefits, and can function as either metallic or semiconducting depending on the nature of their design. The exceptional tensile strength, durability, conductivity, and flexibility of the carbon nanotubes regardless of whether they are single or multi-walled make them ideal for structural reinforcement.
Additionally, carbon nanotubes can be modified, enhancing reactivity and giving engineers better control over their arrangement. And the overall arrangement of the nanotubes can have strong implications for the final product.
Carbon Nanotubes Uses
While carbon nanotubes have many advantages in the field of automotive engineering and innovation, that’s only the beginning of their incredible versatility.
- Automotive Parts: CNTs can increase the durability and functionality of many components within automotives, leading to greater fuel efficiency and stronger machine performance.
- Electronics: The high conductivity of CNTs can allow for stronger performance in data chips and even open the door to touch sensor components.
- Photovoltaic Technology: Solar panels, LEDs, sensors, transistors, fuel cells, and other devices that power physical movement can be refined and revolutionized with CNTs paving the way for greater mechanical efficiency.
- Adsorbents: Carbon nanotubes can be modified to attract specific pollutants, and their hollow structure allows for multiple different pathways for adsorption.
- Catalysts: Since CNTs are excellent conductors, they are ideal support materials for catalytic devices, and can facilitate the transfer of nanoparticles between devices.
- Biomedicine: While research is still being done on the potential drawbacks and toxicity of CNTs in biomedicine, early applications have seen improvement in CNTs’ ability to penetrate the cell membrane and deliver drugs to the body faster, as well as provide vital scaffolding for the science of tissue engineering.
- Agriculture: Research is currently being explored on how CNTs may improve sustainability in agriculture. Current applications include improving seed germination and the nutrient intake process.
At FCC-NA, we are at the forefront of developing and implementing CNTs in automotive engineering. By focusing on the most effective arrangement of carbon nanotubes, we can enable you to leverage their full potential for enhanced performance and innovation.
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Summary
Carbon nanotubes have the potential to dramatically alter the way machines operate, and can improve the overall performance and durability of many components within automotive engineering. At FCC-NA, we facilitate these innovations and pave the way for you to leverage their full potential, providing guided solutions that are continually evolving to match the needs of the markets we serve. Explore our core solutions today.
