Shock-absorbing carbon springs to protect falling gizmos
By Darren Murph 
posted Aug 14th 2008 10:27AM
posted Aug 14th 2008 10:27AM
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]
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?
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.
I don't like how rubber feels and it doesn't slide into pockets. Leather cases are better than rubber IMO.
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.
nanotubez for president
@rutsy5: so your against better materials? I get boners for nano-particle materials. Lighter, stronger, and just plain better... hows that a bad thing?
come on now hes asking a ligit question.
New materials: good.
You getting boners about them: bad. Very, very bad.
Your boner is a nano sized particle?
I can see people going into bestbuy, "Where can I buy some nano tubes for my Envy?" XD
Most consumers don't read engadget. So really they wouldn't go to ask.
Yeah composites always get me going... unfortunately they also tend to make my money go too.
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
What the hell does Clemson have to do with purple uniforms?
its their school colors man
Orange and purple are the clemson tigers team colors.
Go tigers!
Sounds like a new and improved Nintendium.
If nintendo put this in Wiimote,
the will never be blended.
Now where's that cost-absorbing common sense to protect failing gizmo-buyers?
Falling. Falling gizmo-buyers.
Or more correctly, CLUMSY gizmo-buyers.
I think its called paying attention in school, and listening to parents.