BHU develops metal for revolutionising defence technology

Varanasi, May 26 (UNI) Scientists at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) are dreaming of army tanks zipping like racing cars, after claiming to have developed a light-weight wonder metal at the Nano-Technology centre.

The monstrous but stout tanks of the army, besides heavy aircrafts can be made to zoom like racers, if the wonder material 'Multi-Walled Carbon Nano tube-Polyethylene Oxide Composites' (MWNT-PEO) developed by experts at the Centre for Nano Sciences, BHU is applied in defence, aeronautics, automobile and space technology, claimed O N Srivastava head of the team of experts at the Centre.

MWNT-PEO can revolutionise automobile, defence, space and aeronautics industry, Prof Srivastava added.

Carbon nano tubes (CNTs) have attracted considerable scientific attention because of their unique physical properties, and a class of CNT material is CNT composites, in which the nano tubes are embedded within a host matrix material, he informed.

''We have synthesised CNT-polyethylene oxide composites using the solution cast technique. We studied its electrical and mechanical properties at different nano tube loadings and it was found that it has superiority for applications because of its unique properties like rock solid strength and stability in air,'' Prof Srivastava said.

It would be beneficial to make this composite, which may inherit some of the unique properties of the polymer and the conductivity as well as the strength of the CNTs. The elastic modules and tensile strength of an MWNT-PEO were increased by about five and ten folds respectively, he added.

The feat of BHU experts has also provided a base to a researcher at Physics Department of University of Pune Sulabha Kulkarni to develop an ultra light-weight aerogel material using carbon nanotubes and silica.

The strength of this newly developed material could be understood from the fact that only three pieces of it weighing 15 mg can weigh more than seven kilograms in weight of traditional metals. It means the new material could support a weight of about 8000 times of its own body weight, Prof Srivastava said.

The Central University plans to transfer the knowledge about the new material to interested organisations for application in defence, aeronautics, automobile and space industry.

''We hope it will click in the development of light-weight, but fast-paced aircrafts and tanks in future,'' Prof Srivastava, a recipient of the prestigious Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Award (Physical Science) in 1988 said.

He said the application of nano materials was already in practice in the US but in India it was yet to begin. ''The use of CNTs would be economical as well as environment friendly.'' UNI