A simplified process for the production of fibres from boron-nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) is being developed by researchers at Rice University in Houston, Texas, USA. Further to being mechanically strong, BNNTs are thermally conductive, electrically insulating, neutron-shielding, piezoelectric and thermally stable at temperatures of up to 900℃ in air, making them desirable for use in the production of fibres for a wide variety of applications. Forming BNNTs into fibres, however, has so far proved challenging.
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