Carbon Nano beads (CNBs): a new ingredient in reinforcing materials

The on-going research on carbon nano beads (CNBs) are focusing on applications ranging from high strength composites, catalyst carriers, lubricants, electronic devices, weather resistant materials, molecular ball bearings, drug delivery vehicles (Bio-medical), semiconductors/transistors, high-capacity batteries and Hydrogen reservoir for the automotive industry. The commercial applications of CNBs are novel and yet immature for market. Experimental activity concerning a Research Program on Polymer-carbon nano tubes (CNTs) composite included also a limited number of test specimens prepared with CNBs. These specimens highlighted an increase in tensile strength visibly over the average results of the Polymer-CNTs composite tested in the same program. This result was considered indicative of a prospective CNBs adoption in new composites. Carbon group in Politecnico di Torino initiated an in-house small-scale research aimed to define and test a cost effective synthesis process of CNBs. The next step is the use of these CNBs in obtaining different kind of concretes and mortars, trying to enhance mechanical properties. The experimental tests on these materials are going to start during the redaction of the present paper.