Carbon Nanotubes woven into a fine thread are about to take over the world. The first stop for CN thread is to improve the most stubborn design in history, the electric motor.

Engineers at LUT (Lappeenranta University of Technology) have this week demonstrated the first electric motor to be constructed using CN thread in place of copper as the motors windings. The prototype motor produces 40 Watts of output power, spins at 15,0000 RPM and achieves an efficiency of 70%, not bad numbers for a first try.

Copper has till now dominated the windings world, its relatively cheap price and high efficiency keeping it popular. Carbon however is better at both, it is more abundant and the light weight textile material will send power to weight ratios off the chart. The carbon nanotube used in the prototype motor has been spun into yarn and converted into an isolated tape using a ground breaking process developed by Japanese-Dutch company Teijin Aramid in collaboration with Rice University.

When it comes to efficiency typically a car will only achieve 15% efficiency as an overall system; with losses from the engine, gearbox, transmission, tyres and aerodynamics. The latest generation internal combustion engines on their own are now passing 30% efficiency for petrol and 40% for diesel while most electric motors pass the 90% efficiency mark. The CSIRO in-wheel electric motor designed for the Aurora solar racer achieves 98% efficiency; since 100% efficiency isn’t possible 98% is close to our technical limits.

The electric motor is about to enter a strange new phase of its life, the all plastic electric motor is now a possibility. With more power and less weight will CN thread be the next revolution in all things moving and electric?

Reference: LUT
Reference: RICE University: Carbon Nanotube Thread