Super-durable ultralong carbon nanotubes

Finding the source of their durability Many high-strength materials can fail after repeated exposure to subcritical loading; therefore, understanding the causes of fatigue is key to extending the longevity of the material in use. Bai et al. used chemical vapor deposition to produce centimeter-long carbon nanotubes. They then decorated these nanotubes with titanium dioxide nanoparticles for optical visualization and studied them using noncontact acoustic resonance tests. The authors determined that fatigue lifetime is dependent on the formation of the first defects on straining and is higher at lower temperatures. Science , this issue p. 1104