title: Feasibility of a high-powered carbon nanotube thin-film loudspeaker.
abstract: The thermophone, conceived in 1917 by Arnold and Crandall, was a unique thermoacoustic loudspeaker. The high heat capacity per unit area (HCPUA) of thin-film materials at that time limited the usefulness of thermophones. Recently, researchers of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have developed techniques to create a super-aligned thin-film of multi-walled CNTs, possessing extremely low HCPUA. This paper will discuss CNT thin-film loudspeaker theory as well as some initial investigations into the feasibility of a high-powered audio CNT speaker. The advantages of such a loudspeaker include: Ultra-lightweight, compact, no moving parts, low cost, and independence from expensive rare-earth materials.
authors: The Pennsylvania State University, Applied Research Laboratory, PO.Box 30, State College, Pennsylvania 16804-0030, USA. arb279@psu.edu
authors: Andrew R
authors: AR
authors: Barnard
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Jenkins
authors: Timothy A
authors: TA
authors: Brungart
authors: Timothy M
authors: TM
authors: McDevitt
authors: Brian L
authors: BL
authors: Kline
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000669:Amplifiers, Electronic; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009038:Motion; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011312:Pressure; D013016:Sound; D013696:Temperature; D013814:Thermal Conductivity; D014159:Transducers
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon