Using carbon nanotubes, Rensselaer researchers have developed a novel way to enhance conventional material used to reduce vibration in a wide range of applications in manufacturing equipment and electronic devices.

“The nanoscale building blocks we have developed have both micro and macro applications,” says Nikhil Koratkar, assistant professor of mechanical, aerospace, and nuclear engineering, who is leading the research efforts. “We can reduce and control vibrations within material structures. This will benefit the performance, safety, and reliability of future manufacturing equipment, sensitive laboratory equipment, and everyday electronic devices.”

The Rensselaer research team added carbon nanotube fillers to traditional vibration-reduction materials to enhance their energy dissipation capability. Adding large quantities of nanoscale fillers increases the amount of surface area, and thereby increases frictional sliding that occurs at the filler-to-filler interface. The result is a decrease in vibrations.

The research was published in the February issue of the journal Nature Materials.

In 2004, Koratkar received a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Award (CAREER) to fund the development of these new materials. Additional Rensselaer researchers on the project include Pulickel Ajayan, professor of materials science and engineering; Pawel Keblinksi, associate professor of materials science and engineering; and Jonghwan Suhr, a doctoral student in mechanical, aerospace, and nuclear engineering.

Published April 1, 2005