Carbon nano tube 'stitches' make stronger ,lighter composites .

      MIT aerospace engineers have found a way to bond  layers,

      producing a material that is substantially stron and more resistant 

      to damage  than other advanced composites.The improvement

       may lead to stronger, lighter airplane parts .                               

The researchers fastened the layers of composite materials together using carbon 

 - atom thin rolls of carbon that , despite their microscopic stature ,are incredibly      

 strong.They embedded tiny "forests"of carbon nanotube within a glue-like         

matrix,then pressed the matrix between layers of carbon fiber composites .       

Robert Guzman, who led the work as an MIT postdoc in the department of        

 Aeronautics and Aerospace (AeroAstro),says the improvement may lead to         

 stronger , lighter airplane parts-particularly those that require nails or              

bolts, which can crack conventional composites .

Carbon nanotube, are about 10 nanotube in diameter-nearly  million times            

smaller than the carbon fibers. also 1000 time more surface area than carbon fiber.