I was wondering why carbon nanotubes are not used as artificial muscles yet? I mean they behave similar to real muscles, only that they expand horizontally. What are the current challenges that researchers are facing?
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do they shrink or expand if a electrical charge or current is applied? – Solar Mike Aug 07 '18 at 18:31
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Sure, we went to the moon, why not? – Voltage Spike Aug 07 '18 at 18:46
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Young's modulus of muscle fibre: approx. 25kPa. Young's modulus of CNT: approx. 1TPa. Only a factor of $10^8$ difference to worry about - nothing important ;) – alephzero Aug 07 '18 at 18:51
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they expand if electrical charge is applied. – John Doe Aug 07 '18 at 19:16
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@alephzero nothing important indeed, you need a factor of 10^8 less tubes than the muscle fibers you ar replacing. – ratchet freak Aug 08 '18 at 08:50
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So why don't we have artificial muscles made out of carbon nanotubes yet? – John Doe Aug 08 '18 at 23:33