“Strain Paint” Utilizes Carbon Nanotubes to Detect Strain

Scientists at Rice University are working on a paint that will glow when a structure is stressed.

The idea is that instead of antiquated and irregular strain gauging, a plane or other structure could be monitored in real-time to understand how its material is being deformed. The clear paint, filled with carbon nanotubes, can be applied to a surface and later scanned with infrared light to make the stressed regions glow.

This technology has a wide range of potential and could also be used for bridges, dams, etc.

Maybe they’ll develop human “stress paint” and we’ll all turn into living mood rings.

Source: PHYS.ORG

Via: Crazyengineers