Boron Nitride Outdoes Carbon Nanotubes in Strength

Researchers have discovered evidence that boron-nitride reinforced nanocomposites could provide more strength per weight than carbon-nanotube composites.

The work shows that the strength advantage stems from the nature of the interface between boron nitride and polymers used in a composite. When carbon nanotube composites fail, very often the failure is a detaching of the the nanotubes from the polymer. Researchers found, however, that boron-nitrite nanotubes exhibit less likelihood of separating from a polymer.

The researchers hypothesize that this additional strength is related to the uneven distribution of electron bonds, when compared to carbon. In carbon nanotubes, the even charges in the nucleus of each carbon atom means that electrons are shared equally. In boron-nitride, however, the nitrogen atom has more protons than the boron atom, meaning the nitrogen demands more electrons in the bond.

Advantages beyond strength

In addition to strength, boron nitride nanotubes possess the advantage of greater stability at higher temperatures. And important for outer-space applications, it is able to better absorb neutron radiation. The material also has piezoelectric properties.

To learn more about the researchers’ work, see the press release as well as their published work.

Comments

Vaibhav Negi's picture

what polymers were used in the reinforced nanocomposites?