So what, you may ask?
Well, it seems that crazing, which causes the composite to deform into a network of nanoscale pillar-like fibres that bridge together both sides of a crack and slow its growth and basically lead to tougher, more durable aircraft.
Increasingly incorporated into the design of new jets, composite material frames are extremely lightweight, helping to lower the overall weight and boost fuel efficiency. The downside is that epoxy composites can be brittle, which isn't great for structural integrity.
Read more about the technique that incorporates chemically treated carbon nanotubes into an epoxy composite resulting in a five-fold reduction in crack growth rate as compared to a frame infused with untreated nanotubes, and a 20-fold reduction when compared to a composite frame made without nanotubes.
