The muscle is 200 times stronger

US scientists have developed artificial muscle that is 200 times more potent than muscle fibers similar in size to human muscle.

To create this super-powerful muscle, scientists at Texas A & M University in Dallas, US, used tiny carbon nanotubes and twisted together in a similar way to wool or cotton.

Then add paraffin and candle wax to fill the hole and then heat it for a short time. When exposed to heat, the paraffin wax expands, causing the nanotubes to swell and shrink. When the wax cools, the nanotubes shrink and become longer. Thus, the artificial muscle can shrink and last for as long as 25 milliseconds. The same mechanism of elasticity enables the material to perform multiple functions simultaneously, said Ray Baughman, lead researcher.

Artificial muscle is 200 times stronger than natural muscle. Photo: Livescience

The maximum length of a man-made fiber at present is 1km. However, scientists continue to study to make them longer to weave into uniforms for firefighters. This special fiber garment has the biggest advantage of automatically closing the holes when there is a sudden fire. In addition, the team seeks to improve so that they can also react with chemicals.

In the future, this material could be used to make robotic arms, aircraft wings or medical devices. With this kind of muscle, the movement of the robot will be more flexible than the present, while the facial expression is more natural.

The study was published in the Nov. 15 issue of the journal Science.