Shock-absorbing carbon springs to protect falling gizmos

The Tigers down at Clemson University are doing more than deciding whether an all-purple uniform really sends a sense of fear to the opponent, as they're also crafting shock-absorbing carbon springs which could theoretically protect gadgets when they crash to the ground. In working with researchers at UC San Diego, the crew has determined that layers of tiny coiled carbon nanotubes can act as "extremely resilient shock absorbers." The team envisions their discovery finding its way into body armor, car bumpers, bushings and even in shoe soles, but we're hoping that cellphones and PMPs get lined with this stuff to protect from those butter-finger moments.

[Via Physorg]

[rutsy5 @ Aug 14th 2008 10:43AM]

I would imagine you need a somewhat thick layer to provide any sort of protection on a phone... Would this replace plastic casing then? or be sold as an accessory protective case?

Also how is this better than something like rubber, which also deforms and reforms its shape when absorbing impact?

[Mike10010100 @ Aug 14th 2008 10:45AM]

Well, the idea is that this kind of shock absorber would be so microscopic that it could be used on the inside of devices, rather than coating the whole device in rubber.

[fieldcar @ Aug 14th 2008 11:16AM]

I don't like how rubber feels and it doesn't slide into pockets. Leather cases are better than rubber IMO.

[~~Tito~~ @ Aug 15th 2008 2:20AM]

Well, it will make the device look normail, not like a rubber toy version of the device. Plus this could be added ontop of rubber or inside of it.

[From My Cube @ Aug 14th 2008 10:48AM]

nanotubez for president

[fieldcar @ Aug 14th 2008 11:10AM]

@rutsy5: so your against better materials? I get boners for nano-particle materials. Lighter, stronger, and just plain better... hows that a bad thing?

[Ian @ Aug 14th 2008 1:23PM]

come on now hes asking a ligit question.

[Stiv @ Aug 14th 2008 1:54PM]

New materials: good.
You getting boners about them: bad. Very, very bad.

[IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII (BarCODE) @ Aug 14th 2008 11:25PM]

Your boner is a nano sized particle?

[ShadowKain @ Aug 14th 2008 11:11AM]

I can see people going into bestbuy, "Where can I buy some nano tubes for my Envy?" XD

[~~Tito~~ @ Aug 15th 2008 2:21AM]

Most consumers don't read engadget. So really they wouldn't go to ask.

[Macro @ Aug 14th 2008 11:26AM]

Yeah composites always get me going... unfortunately they also tend to make my money go too.

[ivybat @ Aug 14th 2008 11:38AM]

The idea is that it is not only far smaller (a nanotube is an extended bucky-ball, which is a slim 50ish carbon atoms), but it would also be better. Better meaning, it probably doesn't hold in heat like rubber does, so your falling hard-drive doesn't overheat, and for this to be of any use to us, it probably absorbs and dissipates shock more efficiently than rubber.

It's a race for relevancy in gadgets, though, with the surge in popularity of SSDs

[JDGATX @ Aug 14th 2008 12:09PM]

What the hell does Clemson have to do with purple uniforms?

[davecrob1293 @ Aug 14th 2008 9:22PM]

its their school colors man

[yesiprocrastin8 @ Aug 17th 2008 5:00PM]

Orange and purple are the clemson tigers team colors.

Go tigers!

[Crazylink @ Aug 14th 2008 12:14PM]

Sounds like a new and improved Nintendium.

[nDee @ Aug 14th 2008 9:47PM]

If nintendo put this in Wiimote,
the will never be blended.

[Paul Dullford @ Aug 14th 2008 2:29PM]

Now where's that cost-absorbing common sense to protect failing gizmo-buyers?

[Shadyman @ Aug 14th 2008 5:49PM]

Falling. Falling gizmo-buyers.

Or more correctly, CLUMSY gizmo-buyers.

[~~Tito~~ @ Aug 15th 2008 2:23AM]

I think its called paying attention in school, and listening to parents.