Super-strong nanopaper is seven times stronger, 1,000 times smaller

So much for Ballmer's vision of a paperless world -- that is, if the mighty nanofiber paper has anything to do with it. This new paper is made out of the same cellulose your regulation legal pad, but scientists at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden were able to get the fiber so small and defect-free in this version -- about 1,000 times smaller -- that it's more than seven times as strong. By breaking down wood pulp with enzymes and beating it mechanically and then treating the tiny fibers with carboxymethanol, they were able to get the new paper to a tensile strength of 214 megapascals (MPa) compared with the normal 30 MPa. So, why should you care? It's entirely possible that this stuff could replace plastic bags at stores without all the petroleum waste.

[Via OhGizmo]

[Spike @ Jun 10th 2008 5:35PM]

How much energy does it cost to whip this paper like that? Sounds like more techno-stupidity to me.

[TomTom2007 @ Jun 10th 2008 2:47PM]

no more paper cut... with this thing your whole finger will be gone!

[bohsocks @ Jun 10th 2008 2:49PM]

That's evolution, baby.

[Richard Lai @ Jun 10th 2008 3:28PM]

Stronger paper doesn't make it sharper (that's to do with hardness) - it just means that when you're wiping your ass it's less likely to break apart.

[Ghen @ Jun 10th 2008 3:38PM]

Well consider that this may replace normal paper in which case it would need a similar hardness. It being stronger though would mean the paper could be thinner producing a better cut than the paper we use today. I hate having to dissect things for people, ruins a good joke.

[ddub @ Jun 10th 2008 6:55PM]

am i the only one that cringes just from reading the phrase paper cut? eek

[raider @ Jun 11th 2008 2:32AM]

Just don't combine TomTom2007 & Richard Lai .. double ouchie ..

[Richard Lai @ Jun 11th 2008 7:32AM]

@raider: say what?

[yuj @ Jun 10th 2008 2:47PM]

maybe they can make industrial strength toilet papers too...

[waddaya @ Jun 10th 2008 2:55PM]

yeah and nano fiber digestive pills are next.

[Eddie W @ Jun 10th 2008 2:47PM]

I've always wondered why we switched totally to plastic bags and which would be more environmentally friendly or easier to recycle. I hope that this provides a good solution. It sounds interesting, I wonder what it feels like, how flexible it is, etc.

[Starnerf @ Jun 10th 2008 2:50PM]

Plastic bags are cheaper to make (I think) and have handles.

[David @ Jun 10th 2008 2:56PM]

+ stronger + don't tear when wet.

[Arvid @ Jun 10th 2008 3:48PM]

in swede, we actually have handles on our paper bags.... fyi...

[maty @ Jun 10th 2008 4:37PM]

Suuree.... replace the plastic bags with paper ones.... then watch all the trees get cut down.

Its a win-lose situation =[.

[jisilva @ Jun 10th 2008 4:46PM]

In San Francisco, CA we also have handles on our paper bags, fyi!

[Poorieuser @ Jun 10th 2008 5:09PM]

Do you just not understand that paper products come from trees grown specifically for paper. Its a god damn crop ffs.

[theapple @ Jun 10th 2008 2:49PM]

whats wrong with normal paper

[waddaya @ Jun 10th 2008 3:05PM]

A normal roll will not last 5 min when you have the shits.

[Darkroom @ Jun 10th 2008 5:29PM]

OR... it's a step towards more archival books and artist work (litho, photo, etc.)

[David @ Jun 10th 2008 2:57PM]

nothing for writing on, quite a lot for load-bearing

[bolezhinkov @ Jun 10th 2008 3:29PM]

so strong that it can't even be written on.

[Bill @ Jun 10th 2008 3:01PM]

I think we can safely assume the switch was because plastic is cheaper. For that reason, and no other. Not handles, not aesthetics. Cheaper.

[Ghen @ Jun 10th 2008 3:39PM]

But the handles are nice.

[Rick @ Jun 10th 2008 2:58PM]

This stuff will drive the anti-nanotechnology people nuts! There will be worries about loose nanofibers getting into the lungs causing something similar to asbestiosis if the fibers can't break down.

[bondsbw @ Jun 10th 2008 3:01PM]

FTA, cast iron has a tensile strength of 130 MPa. This may have more impact than just grocery bags.

[Bill @ Jun 10th 2008 3:05PM]

You made me look it up, and you are correct. Cast Iron has a yield strength of 130, and an ultimate strength of 200. High strength alloy steel comes in at 690 and 760 respectively.

Thank you wiki!

[Reader @ Jun 10th 2008 3:39PM]

Go Slashdot

[7on @ Jun 10th 2008 5:46PM]

I AM ... PAPERMAN?

[GenBanks @ Jun 10th 2008 7:53PM]

Presumably the fact that it's strong doesn't stop it from burning as easily as normal paper? Would suck for Paperman.

[nanobis @ Jun 10th 2008 3:04PM]

Now it will be even harder to find loose bit of work on my desk.

[Andir3.0 @ Jun 10th 2008 5:19PM]

It just means your dog can eat more of your homework before getting full.

[john @ Jun 10th 2008 3:04PM]

hooray for super paper!

[blackfeather @ Jun 10th 2008 3:06PM]

So, the wood gets beaten mechanically?
*lowest ranked*

[DESTOS @ Jun 10th 2008 3:24PM]

You're getting a - from me because there is no more lowest rank.

This will help in both:

A: Proving that you can not keep up with your gadget blog, resulting in a fail, and low rank.

B: Achieving a "low ranked", thus taunting you by never going down that extra step to "lowest ranked".

[blackfeather @ Jun 10th 2008 3:27PM]

I thought if I wished hard enough, I could make the "lowest ranked" return.

[Ghen @ Jun 10th 2008 3:40PM]

witty jokes that aren't internet memes get voted up.

[NHAnimator @ Jun 10th 2008 3:49PM]

I'm giving him a + just to offset the above-mentioned -.

I mean, he used 'wood' and 'beaten' together. What's this world coming to when that doesn't warrant a +?

[Andir3.0 @ Jun 10th 2008 5:21PM]

"witty jokes that aren't internet memes"
Yeah! Redundancy!

[teej @ Jun 10th 2008 5:43PM]

@DESTOS

you get a good ole - for not keeping up with your own damn gadget blog.

a) lowest rank isn't gone; it's just a lot fucking harder to reach (per Mr. Block himself)
b) STFUPPERCUTS

[pgpprotector @ Jun 10th 2008 3:13PM]

Time for new shredders, as the old ones will just gag with the new paper

[Tom @ Jun 10th 2008 4:12PM]

I'd recommend not trying humor for a while, Steve. Maybe one day your wit will grow 7 times with the help of nanotech - on that day, you may resume.

[Steve Jones @ Jun 10th 2008 4:29PM]

Tom, i'd love to know how nanotech will help my humour. Personally, even if it was possible through some miracle of science (perhaps they injected your o so super comedy genes into me?) I wouldn't try it; my mummy says i'm perfect just the way I am.

[teej @ Jun 10th 2008 5:45PM]

that joke could have maybe worked on bodybuilding.com...maybe.

[hines @ Jun 10th 2008 3:15PM]

Yeah, and it only takes 10 barrels of oil to get all those paper fiber lined up just right.

[truparad0x @ Jun 10th 2008 3:31PM]

That's what I was thinking too. How much energy and cost is it to make this super paper?

[kjb434 @ Jun 10th 2008 4:03PM]

Considering we actually have more oil on this planet than we know what do with, it's not a problem.

We just need to be allowed to drill for it!

The Swedes are the at the forefront of paper and wood technology. I was very impressed with their logging operation. The US and Canada follow the same suit too. The industries are very open with each other and their advancements. I see this paper technology making it to our mills soon!

To me, this helps in archiving documents to back up electronic materials.

i wonder if printing ink and toner could last as long.

[bk7 @ Jun 10th 2008 7:30PM]

i dont know about this specifically, but the intention of most future technology is to capitalise on what we already have around us. i.e. in solar energy, copying to the smallest level what plants all around us do effortlessly (photosynthesis), as opposed to manufacturing solar cells.

Presumably a similar ethos would be behind this invention (as it is with most nanotech). At least id hope so.

[Vidit Bhargava @ Jun 10th 2008 3:16PM]

what if they make toilet paper with this??? ;)

[Firebird @ Jun 10th 2008 4:54PM]

Then you won't be able to tear off the sheets you want, and you'll get frustrated and/or clog your toliet with a whole roll of paper, I'd guess.