January 31, 2012 12:58 am EDT
Original Link: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/30/nanotech-enhanced-smart-paint-promises-to-detect-structural-da/
Nanotech-enhanced 'smart paint' promises to detect structural damage
We've seen scientists explore a number of ways to make paint "smarter" over the years, and now a team of researchers at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow have devised a method that they say could do nothing short of "revolutionize structural safety." The key to that is some novel nanotechnology that effectively turns the paint into a sensor network that's able to detect minor structural faults before they become a severe problem. More specifically, the paint consists of a mix of highly aligned carbon nanotubes and a recycled waste material known as fly ash -- when the nanotubes bend, the conductivity changes, indicating that there could be a structural problem developing. What's more, the fly ash is also said to give the paint a cement-like structure, which the researchers say could let it be used in harsh conditions where traditional structural monitoring can prove difficult (and expensive).
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Nanotech-enhanced 'smart paint' promises to detect structural damage originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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