Super-strong nanopaper is seven times stronger, 1,000 times smaller
By Joshua Fruhlinger 
posted Jun 10th 2008 2:42PM
posted Jun 10th 2008 2:42PM
[Via OhGizmo]
posted Jun 10th 2008 2:42PM
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How much energy does it cost to whip this paper like that? Sounds like more techno-stupidity to me.
no more paper cut... with this thing your whole finger will be gone!
That's evolution, baby.
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.
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.
am i the only one that cringes just from reading the phrase paper cut? eek
Just don't combine TomTom2007 & Richard Lai .. double ouchie ..
@raider: say what?
maybe they can make industrial strength toilet papers too...
yeah and nano fiber digestive pills are next.
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.
Plastic bags are cheaper to make (I think) and have handles.
+ stronger + don't tear when wet.
in swede, we actually have handles on our paper bags.... fyi...
Suuree.... replace the plastic bags with paper ones.... then watch all the trees get cut down.
Its a win-lose situation =[.
In San Francisco, CA we also have handles on our paper bags, fyi!
Do you just not understand that paper products come from trees grown specifically for paper. Its a god damn crop ffs.
whats wrong with normal paper
A normal roll will not last 5 min when you have the shits.
OR... it's a step towards more archival books and artist work (litho, photo, etc.)
nothing for writing on, quite a lot for load-bearing
so strong that it can't even be written on.
I think we can safely assume the switch was because plastic is cheaper. For that reason, and no other. Not handles, not aesthetics. Cheaper.
But the handles are nice.
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.
FTA, cast iron has a tensile strength of 130 MPa. This may have more impact than just grocery bags.
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!
Go Slashdot
I AM ... PAPERMAN?
Presumably the fact that it's strong doesn't stop it from burning as easily as normal paper? Would suck for Paperman.
Now it will be even harder to find loose bit of work on my desk.
It just means your dog can eat more of your homework before getting full.
hooray for super paper!
So, the wood gets beaten mechanically?
*lowest ranked*
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".
I thought if I wished hard enough, I could make the "lowest ranked" return.
witty jokes that aren't internet memes get voted up.
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 +?
"witty jokes that aren't internet memes"
Yeah! Redundancy!
@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
Time for new shredders, as the old ones will just gag with the new paper
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.
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.
that joke could have maybe worked on bodybuilding.com...maybe.
Yeah, and it only takes 10 barrels of oil to get all those paper fiber lined up just right.
That's what I was thinking too. How much energy and cost is it to make this super paper?
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.
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.
what if they make toilet paper with this??? ;)
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.