"We weren't testing this material in a vacuum, like what you'd experience in space,” said Binghamton University associate professor of mechanical engineering, Changhong Ke. “We wanted to see if BNNTs could hold up in the type of environment an average fighter jet or commercial plane would experience.”
While the study has brought new light to the strength and stability of BNNTs, their use on planes may not be a reality for another five to 10 years.
"Right now, BNNTs cost about $1,000 per gram. It would be impractical to use a product that expensive," said Ke.
Carbon nanotubes were about the same price 20 years ago. As more studies indicated the usefulness of carbon nanotubes, the production rates increased and prices went down to the current rate, between $10 and $20 per gram. Ke sees the same fate coming down the line for BNNTs.
