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1. Table of main CNT properties
| Property | Typical value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mass density | ~1.3–1.4 g/cm³ | Very light |
| Elasticity modulus (E) | ~1000 GPa (1 TPa) | Extremely high |
| Tensile strength | ~10–50 GPa | Exceptional |
| Hardness | Very high | |
| Thermal conductivity | ~2000–3000 W/m·K | Very high |
| Electrical conductivity | Very high | Conductor |
| Expansion coefficient | Very low | Nearly zero |
| Magnetism | No | Non-magnetic |
| Corrosion resistance | Excellent | Very stable |
| Machinability | Not applicable | Nanomaterial |
2. General description
Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are cylindrical structures made up of graphene sheets rolled up at the nanometric scale. Derived from nanotechnology, they exhibit exceptional mechanical, thermal, and physical properties, far superior to those of traditional Materials.
Presenting environmental hazards and health risks, carbon nanotubes have been subject to REACH regulation since 2020.
In watchmaking, their use remains very marginal and mainly experimental, particularly in the development of hairsprings composites aimed at improving the performance of the regulating organ.
3. Structure and behavior
Carbon nanotubes can be:
- Single-walled (SWCNT) → a single layer of graphene
- Multi-walled (MWCNT) → several concentric layers
They are generally used:
- in the form of networks
- integrated into a composite die
On a macroscopic scale, their properties depend heavily on:
- their orientation
- their dispersion
- their density
4. Watchmaking applications
In watchmaking, carbon nanotubes have been explored experimentally for:
- Hairsprings composites
Their main interest lies in their ability to:
- offer very stable elasticity
- reduce sensitivity to thermal variations
- eliminate the effects of magnetism
5. Advantages and limitations
Advantages
- Exceptional mechanical properties
- Very high lightness
- Remarkable thermal stability
- Non-magnetic
- High fatigue resistance
Limitations
- Complex implementation
- Difficulty in large-scale production
- Properties dependent on structuring
- Very high cost
- Still experimental use
- Difficulty of industrial reproducibility
- Subject to REACH regulation (health and environmental hazards)
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