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Press Release 05-004
Carbon Nanotube "Shock Absorbers" Excel at Damping Vibration
January 12, 2005
Arlington, Va.--Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a novel carbon-nanotube-based material that chokes vibration and may have applications for both large and small devices.
In the January 9, 2004, advance online edition of Nature Materials, the researchers describe the new material and demonstrate its usefulness as a filler to enhance traditional vibration-reduction materials.
Conducted by Nikhil Koratkar and colleagues at Rensselaer, the research arose from Koratkar's National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award, which recognizes outstanding scientists and engineers who, early in their careers, show exceptional potential for leadership at the frontiers of knowledge. This award is the highest honor bestowed by NSF on scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers.
Comments from NSF:
"True to the spirit of nanoscale engineering, Koratkar's team developed unique composite materials to maximize frictional damping. Although one may argue that carbon nanotubes are too expensive to use in practical systems, there is no reason why other, less expensive, nanoscale materials cannot be incorporated to accomplish the same task. This is an excellent example of someone taking lemon and turning it into lemonade." – Yip-Wah Chung, Director of the NSF Surface Engineering and Material Design Program
"In most mechanical systems, friction is often considered to be a negative attribute because it results in wear and unnecessary energy dissipation. In this case, professor Koratkar took advantage of friction between sliding interfaces to damp vibrations." – Yip-Wah Chung
RPI press release available at: http://news.rpi.edu/update.do?artcenterkey=614&setappvar=page(1)
-NSF-
Koratkar's CAREER Award information is available at:http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=0347604
Further information about the CAREER Award program is available at:http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/career/start.htm
Media Contacts
Joshua A. Chamot, NSF (703) 292-8070 jchamot@nsf.gov
Mary Cimo, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (518) 276-6098 cimom@rpi.edu
Program Contacts
Yip-Wah Chung, NSF (703) 292-8360 ychung@nsf.gov
Principal Investigators
Nikhil Koratkar, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (518) 276-2630 koratn@rpi.edu
Related Websites
For an update on Koratkar's nanotube research, see the Feb. 8, 2006, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute press release at: http://news.rpi.edu/update.do?artcenterkey=1347
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that
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engineering, with an annual budget of $6.06 billion. NSF funds reach all 50
states through grants to over 1,900 universities and institutions. Each year,
NSF receives about 45,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes over
11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in
professional and service contracts yearly.
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