Using nanotubes to detect and repair cracks in aircraft wings, other structures

Professor Nikhil Koratkar has developed a new method to use carbon nanotubes for both detecting and repairing tiny cracks in nearly any polymer structure. In this image, carbon nanotubes are randomly dispersed in an epoxy resin, which can be molded into different structures. By infusing the polymer with electrically conductive carbon nanotubes and monitoring the electrical resistance at different points in the structure, he can pinpoint the location and length of even the tiniest stress-induced crack. Once a crack is located, Kotakar can then send a short electrical charge to the area in order to heat up the carbon nanotubes and in turn melt an embedded healing agent that will flow into and seal the crack. Credit: Rensselaer/ N. Koratkar