MIRALON carbon nanotube yarn and sheet CNT yarn
C (yarn of millions of aligned carbon nanotube filaments
Also known as MIRALON
MIRALON carbon nanotube yarn and sheet is a Huntsman product made of aligned carbon nanotube filaments.
Evidence level
2 of 5
Lab-measured
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
Strength of the yarn
240 MPa
Electrical conduction
2840 S*cm²/g
Stiffness
4.9 GPa
Density
0.6 g/cm³
Recipe, share of the weight
- C 100.0%Carbon
Best for
Lightweight conductive yarn that must be stitched, woven or braided; the high-strength yarn has a typical specific electrical conductivity of 18230 S*cm2/g at 20 °C per Perigee Direct.
Weakest at
Tensile strength depends on the grade: base yarn is 240 MPa and high-strength yarn is 1040 MPa, both typical values from Perigee Direct, while the NRO report gives 3 GPa for research spun yarns. These are different products and tests, so the figures are not interchangeable.
Risk at a glance
- People Low. Handle as a precaution
- If it fails Low. Dust explosion of loose carbon powder
- Corrosion No data. No corrosion data recorded
Quick facts: CNT yarn
| Property | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 0.6 to 0.8 g/cm³ | 2 sourced values across conditions |
| Tensile strength | 240 to 3,000 MPa | 5 sourced values across conditions |
| Young's modulus | 4.9 to 46.4 GPa | 2 sourced values across conditions |
What is the density of MIRALON carbon nanotube yarn and sheet (CNT yarn)?
MIRALON carbon nanotube yarn and sheet (CNT yarn) has a density of 0.6 to 0.8 g/cm³. The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the tensile strength of MIRALON carbon nanotube yarn and sheet (CNT yarn)?
MIRALON carbon nanotube yarn and sheet (CNT yarn) has a tensile strength of 240 to 3,000 MPa. The range covers 5 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the Young's modulus of MIRALON carbon nanotube yarn and sheet (CNT yarn)?
MIRALON carbon nanotube yarn and sheet (CNT yarn) has a Young's modulus of 4.9 to 46.4 GPa. The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is MIRALON carbon nanotube yarn and sheet (CNT yarn) used for?
Uses recorded in the sources include ESD protection layer on a composite spacecraft surface (NASA Juno, manufacturer's claim); Woven CNT yarn antenna (research); Structural reinforcement in composites and pressure vessels.
Why it exists
MIRALON is a carbon nanotube yarn and sheet made by Huntsman Corporation and sold in yarn form by resellers such as Perigee Direct. It matters because it has typical tensile and electrical values printed in a reseller table, and because Huntsman states that MIRALON sheets were used for electrostatic discharge protection on NASA's Juno spacecraft. The Juno use is a manufacturer statement, and no flight data was read in this run.
Where it's used
Spacecraft ESD protection (manufacturer's claim)
Huntsman says MIRALON sheets were laid directly onto a composite spacecraft structure on NASA's Juno spacecraft to protect against electrostatic discharge on the way to Jupiter. The sheets replaced metallic solutions that are typically bonded to the surface.
Antennas and conductive wiring (research)
The NRO report shows a woven CNT yarn antenna in Figure 3. It lists mesh antenna structures and conductive wiring among yarn applications.
Composites
Perigee Direct lists structural reinforcement in composites and pressure vessels among the yarn's popular uses. The page gives no test data for this use.
Recipe
C (yarn of millions of aligned carbon nanotube filaments; the Huntsman page calls them structured carbon)
MIRALON yarn is made of millions of aligned filaments of structured carbon, which the Perigee Direct page describes as carbon nanotubes. The Huntsman page describes an FC-CVD manufacturing process that makes hydrogen as a by-product and a solid carbon product from natural gas or other hydrocarbons.
| Ingredient | Atoms per unit | Share of the weight | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon C | 1 | 100.0% | The only element named for the yarn. Each nanotube wall is a rolled sheet of carbon, so the product is carbon unless catalyst or other material remains. The page does not state the residual content. |
Weight shares are calculated from standard atomic weights.
What it can do
Strength of the yarn
240 MPa
measured
Base yarn has a typical tensile strength of 240 MPa and high-strength yarn 1040 MPa, per Perigee Direct's typical values table. The NRO report gives 3 GPa for research spun CNT yarns and does not name a product.
Electrical conduction
2840 S*cm²/g
measured
High-strength yarn has a typical specific electrical conductivity of 18230 S*cm2/g at 20 °C, against 2840 S*cm2/g for base yarn, per Perigee Direct.
Stiffness
4.9 GPa
measured
Tensile modulus is 4.9 GPa for base yarn and 46.4 GPa for high-strength yarn, both typical values per Perigee Direct.
Density
0.6 g/cm³
measured
Yarn density is typically 0.6 g/cm3 for base yarn and 0.8 g/cm3 for high-strength yarn, per Perigee Direct.
How it compares
The NRO report lists 3 GPa for research spun CNT yarns and says aluminium breaks at 500 MPa and carbon steel at around 1 GPa. The high-strength MIRALON yarn is typically 1040 MPa on the Perigee Direct table, so the two sources do not give the same figure for a yarn product. The NRO report also says CNT yarn and sheet weigh less than half as much as aluminium, a comparison the reseller table does not make.
The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Compare every grade in the family.
| Measurement | CNT yarn |
|---|---|
| Physical and electrical | |
| Density, base yarn | 0.6 g/cm³1 |
| Density, high-strength yarn | 0.8 g/cm³2 |
| Linear density, base yarn | 10 Tex (g/km)3 |
| Linear density, high-strength yarn | 31 Tex (g/km)4 |
| Specific electrical conductivity, base yarn | 2840 S*cm²/g7 |
| Specific electrical conductivity, high-strength yarn | 18230 S*cm²/g8 |
| Other measurements | |
| Diameter, base yarn | 150 μm5 |
| Diameter, high-strength yarn | 240 μm6 |
| Tenacity, base yarn | 0.4 N/Tex9 |
| Tenacity, high-strength yarn | 1.3 N/Tex10 |
| Tensile strength, base yarn (typical) | 240 MPa11 |
| Tensile strength, high-strength yarn (typical) | 1040 MPa12 |
| Tensile modulus, base yarn (typical) | 4.9 GPa13 |
| Tensile modulus, high-strength yarn (typical) | 46.4 GPa14 |
| Strain at break, base yarn (typical) | 27 %15 |
| Strain at break, high-strength yarn (typical) | 3.5 %16 |
| Tensile strength, spun CNT yarns (research achievement) | 3 GPa17 |
| Tensile strength, CNT sheets without binders (low end of range) | 500 MPa18 |
| Tensile strength, CNT sheets without binders (high end of range) | 1.2 GPa19 |
| Tenacity, as-received Miralon yarn (large cross-section yarn, LCY) | 0.911 N/tex20 |
| Specific stiffness, as-received Miralon yarn (LCY) | 46.84 N/tex21 |
| Failure strain, as-received Miralon yarn (LCY) | 3.186 %22 |
Why choose it, and why not
Good for
- Lightweight conductive yarn that is stitched, woven or braided, where typical conductivity and strength per unit weight matter more than the highest possible tensile figure.
- Electrostatic discharge layers on composite structures, following the manufacturer's Juno statement.
Watch out for
- The Perigee Direct values are typical values from a reseller, not a manufacturer specification, and the page says so.
- Yarn strength depends on the grade: base yarn is 240 MPa and high-strength yarn is 1040 MPa, both typical values.
- No corrosion, ageing, thermal or temperature-range data for MIRALON was found in the pages read.
- The Juno ESD use is a manufacturer statement without flight data in this profile.
MIRALON is a commercial carbon nanotube yarn with typical electrical and tensile values and a manufacturer-stated spacecraft ESD use on Juno. The values come from a reseller table and a government report, so this profile stays a draft until the manufacturer datasheet and a flight source are read.
Technical details
For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.
Other names and standards
The same grade under other systems, as datasheets and standards print them. Each code was checked against the page it comes from.
| System | Codes |
|---|---|
| Trade name | MIRALON |
Notes
The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Density, base yarn | Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct); footnotes (1) and (2) are printed without row markers | yarn base yarnbasis typical production batches, standard test methods; typical values only, not a product specification | — |
| 2 | Density, high-strength yarn | Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct); footnotes (1) and (2) are printed without row markers | yarn high-strength yarnbasis typical production batches, standard test methods; typical values only, not a product specification | — |
| 3 | Linear density, base yarn | Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct) | yarn base yarnbasis typical production batches; typical values only | — |
| 4 | Linear density, high-strength yarn | Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct) | yarn high-strength yarnbasis typical production batches; typical values only | — |
| 5 | Diameter, base yarn | Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct) | yarn base yarnbasis typical production batches; typical values only | — |
| 6 | Diameter, high-strength yarn | Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct) | yarn high-strength yarnbasis typical production batches; typical values only | — |
| 7 | Specific electrical conductivity, base yarn | Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct); the row is specific, so it is per unit mass | yarn base yarntemperature 20 °C (as printed, @20°C)basis typical production batches; typical values only | — |
| 8 | Specific electrical conductivity, high-strength yarn | Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct); the row is specific, so it is per unit mass | yarn high-strength yarntemperature 20 °C (as printed, @20°C)basis typical production batches; typical values only | — |
| 9 | Tenacity, base yarn | Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct) | yarn base yarnbasis typical production batches; typical values only | — |
| 10 | Tenacity, high-strength yarn | Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct) | yarn high-strength yarnbasis typical production batches; typical values only | — |
| 11 | Tensile strength, base yarn (typical) | Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct); test method not named on the page | yarn base yarnbasis typical production batches, standard test methods; typical values only, not a product specification | — |
| 12 | Tensile strength, high-strength yarn (typical) | Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct); test method not named on the page | yarn high-strength yarnbasis typical production batches, standard test methods; typical values only, not a product specification | — |
| 13 | Tensile modulus, base yarn (typical) | Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct); test method not named on the page | yarn base yarnbasis typical production batches; typical values only | — |
| 14 | Tensile modulus, high-strength yarn (typical) | Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct); test method not named on the page | yarn high-strength yarnbasis typical production batches; typical values only | — |
| 15 | Strain at break, base yarn (typical) | Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct) | yarn base yarnbasis typical production batches; typical values only | — |
| 16 | Strain at break, high-strength yarn (typical) | Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct) | yarn high-strength yarnbasis typical production batches; typical values only | — |
| 17 | Tensile strength, spun CNT yarns (research achievement) | Stated as a current achievement in Table 1 of a US National Reconnaissance Office presentation hosted by nano.gov | form spun CNT yarns, research achievement; product not named in the reportbasis current achievement as printed; no test method given | — |
| 18 | Tensile strength, CNT sheets without binders (low end of range) | Range as printed in Table 1 of a US National Reconnaissance Office presentation hosted by nano.gov; each end is recorded separately | form CNT sheets without bindersbasis low end of the printed range, which depends on tube orientation | — |
| 19 | Tensile strength, CNT sheets without binders (high end of range) | Range as printed in Table 1 of a US National Reconnaissance Office presentation hosted by nano.gov; each end is recorded separately | form CNT sheets without bindersbasis high end of the printed range, which depends on tube orientation | — |
| 20 | Tenacity, as-received Miralon yarn (large cross-section yarn, LCY) | Average specific tensile strength from Table 1 of a 2020 SAMPE paper by the High-Performance Materials Institute, Florida A&M University and Florida State University; specific stress calculated from the average linear density | yarn as-received Miralon yarn from Nanocomp Technologies (LCY); grade not statedgauge length 100 to 120 mmloading capstan grips, 3 N/min loading rate, preload 0.1 to 0.15 Nbasis average of the tested samples; spread printed as plus or minus 0.137 | A research test at 100 to 120 mm gauge length, per tex. It is not the same test or grade as the Perigee Direct tenacity rows above, which are reseller typical values. |
| 21 | Specific stiffness, as-received Miralon yarn (LCY) | Average specific stiffness from Table 1 of the same 2020 SAMPE paper | yarn as-received Miralon yarn from Nanocomp Technologies (LCY); grade not statedgauge length 100 to 120 mmloading capstan grips, 3 N/min loading rate, preload 0.1 to 0.15 Nbasis average of the tested samples; spread printed as plus or minus 9.778 | — |
| 22 | Failure strain, as-received Miralon yarn (LCY) | Average failure strain from Table 1 of the same 2020 SAMPE paper | yarn as-received Miralon yarn from Nanocomp Technologies (LCY); grade not statedgauge length 100 to 120 mmloading capstan grips, 3 N/min loading rate, preload 0.1 to 0.15 Nbasis average of the tested samples; spread printed as plus or minus 0.632 | — |
Risks and side effects
Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.
For people
HSE advises a precautionary approach for CNTs that workers may inhale, and no UK exposure limit is set for nanomaterials. No safety data sheet for MIRALON was read.
- Inhalation
- Long straight CNT fibres should be assumed to carry the health effects HSE identifies for biopersistent fibres. Tangled, fluffy bundles may still cause lung inflammation.
- Exposure limits
- HSE says there are no UK statutory workplace exposure limits set specifically for nanomaterials.
- Dust
- PubChem's carbon record, citing ICSC, says carbon powder mixed with air can cause a dust explosion. The note is for carbon powder, not for MIRALON yarn.
Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.
Failure risks
| Failure | Trigger and consequence |
|---|---|
| Dust explosion of loose carbon powderlow severity | Powder mixed with airPubChem's carbon record, citing ICSC, says dust explosions are possible when the powder is mixed with air. The note is for carbon powder, not for MIRALON yarn, and no test of MIRALON yarn was found. |
Handling and storage
- Store in a cool, dry place, in the original package, away from direct sunlight.
- HSE advises a precautionary risk management approach when workers may inhale CNTs or other biopersistent high aspect ratio nanomaterials.
Supply and geography
How common the raw materials are and where they come from.
Feedstock: natural gas or other hydrocarbons (MIRALON process)
Not quantified on the pages read
Natural graphite (closest carbon commodity; not MIRALON's feedstock)
World mine production 1,800,000 tons (2025e, rounded), up from 1,550,000 tons in 2024; world reserves 310,000,000 tons
- Top producers (2025)
- China 82%
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
Full record
The complete spore, as stored. Free to reuse under CC-BY-4.0. Images keep the licence shown with each one.
Show the full YAML
spore: profile
id: miralon-cnt-yarn
spore_version: 0.2
family: carbon-materials
name: MIRALON carbon nanotube yarn and sheet
abbreviation: CNT yarn
role: Macroscopic carbon nanotube yarn and sheet, sold by Huntsman as MIRALON
category: carbon
type: nanotubes
summary: MIRALON carbon nanotube yarn and sheet is a Huntsman product made of aligned carbon nanotube filaments. Per the Perigee Direct product page, the high-strength yarn has a typical density of 0.8 g/cm3 and a typical tensile strength of 1040 MPa; the page says these typical values are not a product specification. Huntsman states that MIRALON sheets gave electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection on NASA's Juno spacecraft on its way to Jupiter, a manufacturer claim with no flight data in the pages read.
best_for: Lightweight conductive yarn that must be stitched, woven or braided; the high-strength yarn has a typical specific electrical conductivity of 18230 S*cm2/g at 20 °C per Perigee Direct.
weakest_at: 'Tensile strength depends on the grade: base yarn is 240 MPa and high-strength yarn is 1040 MPa, both typical values from Perigee Direct, while the NRO report gives 3 GPa for research spun yarns. These are different products and tests, so the figures are not interchangeable.'
identity:
formula: C (yarn of millions of aligned carbon nanotube filaments; the Huntsman page calls them structured carbon)
cas: ''
crystal_system: ''
space_group: ''
designations:
- system: Trade name
code: MIRALON
source: miralon-huntsman
where: Page title and Products heading, 'MIRALON Carbon Nanotube Materials'
source: miralon-huntsman
where: 'Product description: MIRALON yarn products are carbon-based fibres composed of millions of aligned filaments of structured carbon'
tags:
environments: []
stresses: []
applications:
- structures
- electronics-and-chips
properties:
- benchmark: density
label: Density, base yarn
value: 0.6
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
yarn: base yarn
basis: typical production batches, standard test methods; typical values only, not a product specification
method: Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct); footnotes (1) and (2) are printed without row markers
status: ground
source: perigee-miralon
where: Typical Physical Properties table, Density row, Base Yarn column
- benchmark: density
label: Density, high-strength yarn
value: 0.8
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
yarn: high-strength yarn
basis: typical production batches, standard test methods; typical values only, not a product specification
method: Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct); footnotes (1) and (2) are printed without row markers
status: ground
source: perigee-miralon
where: Typical Physical Properties table, Density row, High Strength Yarn column
- benchmark: linear_density
label: Linear density, base yarn
value: 10
unit: Tex (g/km)
scope: material
conditions:
yarn: base yarn
basis: typical production batches; typical values only
method: Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct)
status: ground
source: perigee-miralon
where: Typical Physical Properties table, Linear density row, Base Yarn column
- benchmark: linear_density
label: Linear density, high-strength yarn
value: 31
unit: Tex (g/km)
scope: material
conditions:
yarn: high-strength yarn
basis: typical production batches; typical values only
method: Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct)
status: ground
source: perigee-miralon
where: Typical Physical Properties table, Linear density row, High Strength Yarn column
- benchmark: diameter
label: Diameter, base yarn
value: 150
unit: μm
scope: material
conditions:
yarn: base yarn
basis: typical production batches; typical values only
method: Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct)
status: ground
source: perigee-miralon
where: Typical Physical Properties table, Diameter row, Base Yarn column
- benchmark: diameter
label: Diameter, high-strength yarn
value: 240
unit: μm
scope: material
conditions:
yarn: high-strength yarn
basis: typical production batches; typical values only
method: Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct)
status: ground
source: perigee-miralon
where: Typical Physical Properties table, Diameter row, High Strength Yarn column
- benchmark: specific_electrical_conductivity
label: Specific electrical conductivity, base yarn
value: 2840
unit: S*cm2/g
scope: material
conditions:
yarn: base yarn
temperature: 20 °C (as printed, @20°C)
basis: typical production batches; typical values only
method: Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct); the row is specific, so it is per unit mass
status: ground
source: perigee-miralon
where: Typical Physical Properties table, Specific electrical conductivity row, Base Yarn column
- benchmark: specific_electrical_conductivity
label: Specific electrical conductivity, high-strength yarn
value: 18230
unit: S*cm2/g
scope: material
conditions:
yarn: high-strength yarn
temperature: 20 °C (as printed, @20°C)
basis: typical production batches; typical values only
method: Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct); the row is specific, so it is per unit mass
status: ground
source: perigee-miralon
where: Typical Physical Properties table, Specific electrical conductivity row, High Strength Yarn column
- benchmark: tenacity
label: Tenacity, base yarn
value: 0.4
unit: N/Tex
scope: material
conditions:
yarn: base yarn
basis: typical production batches; typical values only
method: Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct)
status: ground
source: perigee-miralon
where: Typical Physical Properties table, Tenacity row, Base Yarn column
- benchmark: tenacity
label: Tenacity, high-strength yarn
value: 1.3
unit: N/Tex
scope: material
conditions:
yarn: high-strength yarn
basis: typical production batches; typical values only
method: Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct)
status: ground
source: perigee-miralon
where: Typical Physical Properties table, Tenacity row, High Strength Yarn column
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, base yarn (typical)
value: 240
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
yarn: base yarn
basis: typical production batches, standard test methods; typical values only, not a product specification
method: Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct); test method not named on the page
status: ground
source: perigee-miralon
where: Typical Physical Properties table, Tensile strength row, Base Yarn column
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, high-strength yarn (typical)
value: 1040
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
yarn: high-strength yarn
basis: typical production batches, standard test methods; typical values only, not a product specification
method: Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct); test method not named on the page
status: ground
source: perigee-miralon
where: Typical Physical Properties table, Tensile strength row, High Strength Yarn column
- benchmark: elastic_modulus
label: Tensile modulus, base yarn (typical)
value: 4.9
unit: GPa
scope: material
conditions:
yarn: base yarn
basis: typical production batches; typical values only
method: Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct); test method not named on the page
status: ground
source: perigee-miralon
where: Typical Physical Properties table, Tensile modulus row, Base Yarn column
- benchmark: elastic_modulus
label: Tensile modulus, high-strength yarn (typical)
value: 46.4
unit: GPa
scope: material
conditions:
yarn: high-strength yarn
basis: typical production batches; typical values only
method: Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct); test method not named on the page
status: ground
source: perigee-miralon
where: Typical Physical Properties table, Tensile modulus row, High Strength Yarn column
- benchmark: elongation
label: Strain at break, base yarn (typical)
value: 27
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
yarn: base yarn
basis: typical production batches; typical values only
method: Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct)
status: ground
source: perigee-miralon
where: Typical Physical Properties table, Strain at break row, Base Yarn column
- benchmark: elongation
label: Strain at break, high-strength yarn (typical)
value: 3.5
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
yarn: high-strength yarn
basis: typical production batches; typical values only
method: Typical value in the Typical Physical Properties table of a reseller product page (Perigee Direct)
status: ground
source: perigee-miralon
where: Typical Physical Properties table, Strain at break row, High Strength Yarn column
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, spun CNT yarns (research achievement)
value: 3
unit: GPa
scope: material
conditions:
form: spun CNT yarns, research achievement; product not named in the report
basis: current achievement as printed; no test method given
method: Stated as a current achievement in Table 1 of a US National Reconnaissance Office presentation hosted by nano.gov
status: ground
source: nro-cnt-yarns
where: Table 1, row Strength - Spun Yarns
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, CNT sheets without binders (low end of range)
value: 500
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
form: CNT sheets without binders
basis: low end of the printed range, which depends on tube orientation
method: Range as printed in Table 1 of a US National Reconnaissance Office presentation hosted by nano.gov; each end is recorded separately
status: ground
source: nro-cnt-yarns
where: Table 1, row Strength - Sheets
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, CNT sheets without binders (high end of range)
value: 1.2
unit: GPa
scope: material
conditions:
form: CNT sheets without binders
basis: high end of the printed range, which depends on tube orientation
method: Range as printed in Table 1 of a US National Reconnaissance Office presentation hosted by nano.gov; each end is recorded separately
status: ground
source: nro-cnt-yarns
where: Table 1, row Strength - Sheets
- benchmark: tenacity
label: Tenacity, as-received Miralon yarn (large cross-section yarn, LCY)
value: 0.911
unit: N/tex
scope: material
conditions:
yarn: as-received Miralon yarn from Nanocomp Technologies (LCY); grade not stated
gauge_length: 100 to 120 mm
loading: capstan grips, 3 N/min loading rate, preload 0.1 to 0.15 N
basis: average of the tested samples; spread printed as plus or minus 0.137
method: Average specific tensile strength from Table 1 of a 2020 SAMPE paper by the High-Performance Materials Institute, Florida A&M University and Florida State University; specific stress calculated from the average linear density
status: ground
note: A research test at 100 to 120 mm gauge length, per tex. It is not the same test or grade as the Perigee Direct tenacity rows above, which are reseller typical values.
source: sampe-cnt-yarn
where: Table 1, row LCY, Avg. Specific Tensile Strength column
- benchmark: specific_stiffness
label: Specific stiffness, as-received Miralon yarn (LCY)
value: 46.845
unit: N/tex
scope: material
conditions:
yarn: as-received Miralon yarn from Nanocomp Technologies (LCY); grade not stated
gauge_length: 100 to 120 mm
loading: capstan grips, 3 N/min loading rate, preload 0.1 to 0.15 N
basis: average of the tested samples; spread printed as plus or minus 9.778
method: Average specific stiffness from Table 1 of the same 2020 SAMPE paper
status: ground
source: sampe-cnt-yarn
where: Table 1, row LCY, Avg. Specific Stiffness column
- benchmark: elongation
label: Failure strain, as-received Miralon yarn (LCY)
value: 3.186
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
yarn: as-received Miralon yarn from Nanocomp Technologies (LCY); grade not stated
gauge_length: 100 to 120 mm
loading: capstan grips, 3 N/min loading rate, preload 0.1 to 0.15 N
basis: average of the tested samples; spread printed as plus or minus 0.632
method: Average failure strain from Table 1 of the same 2020 SAMPE paper
status: ground
source: sampe-cnt-yarn
where: Table 1, row LCY, Avg. Failure Strain column
corrosion: []
risks:
hazards:
- text: There are no UK statutory workplace exposure limits (WELs) specifically for nanomaterials, according to HSE.
ghs: []
source: hsg272
where: Workplace exposure limits, paragraph 25
- text: CNTs may be pure carbon or contain metals or residual catalyst. Long straight fibres should be assumed to have the potential to cause the health effects HSE identifies for biopersistent high aspect ratio nanomaterials, in the absence of evidence to the contrary.
ghs: []
source: hsg272
where: CNTs section (page 6 of the report)
- text: Tangled, low-density fluffy bundles have no evidence so far of a hazard for the pleural cavity, but may still cause inflammation in the lungs. HSE says it is not possible to make statements about the long-term consequences of repeated exposure to tangled CNTs.
ghs: []
source: hsg272
where: CNTs section (page 6 of the report)
failure_risks:
- mode: Dust explosion of loose carbon powder
trigger: Powder mixed with air
consequence: PubChem's carbon record, citing ICSC, says dust explosions are possible when the powder is mixed with air. The note is for carbon powder, not for MIRALON yarn, and no test of MIRALON yarn was found.
severity: low
source: pubchem-carbon
where: Safety and Hazards, Dust explosion note (ICSC)
side_effects: []
handling:
- text: Store in a cool, dry place, in the original package, away from direct sunlight.
source: perigee-miralon
where: Storage section
- text: HSE advises a precautionary risk management approach when workers may inhale CNTs or other biopersistent high aspect ratio nanomaterials.
source: hsg272
where: CNTs section, precautionary approach paragraph
mitigations: []
uses:
- application: structures
device: ESD protection layer on a composite spacecraft surface (NASA Juno, manufacturer's claim)
example: Huntsman says MIRALON sheets were used on NASA's Juno spacecraft to protect against electrostatic discharge on the way to Jupiter. The sheets were laid directly onto the composite in place of metallic solutions that are typically bonded to the surface.
source: miralon-huntsman
where: Aerospace section, paragraph on the NASA Juno spacecraft
- application: electronics-and-chips
device: Woven CNT yarn antenna (research)
example: Figure 3 of the NRO report shows a woven CNT yarn antenna. The report says yarn applications range from mesh antenna structures and wearable electronics to conductive wiring.
source: nro-cnt-yarns
where: Figure 3 caption; Yarns paragraph
- application: structures
device: Structural reinforcement in composites and pressure vessels
example: Perigee Direct lists structural reinforcement in composites and pressure vessels among the popular uses of the yarn. The page gives no test data for this use.
source: perigee-miralon
where: Popular Applications and Uses; Applications list
- application: structures
device: ESD protection surface layer on Juno composite components (EMSHIELD CNT sheet, per Nanocomp's 2011 release)
example: Nanocomp's 2011 release says its EMSHIELD CNT sheet was built into the Juno spacecraft as a surface layer for electrostatic discharge protection on the way to Jupiter. The release names EMSHIELD; this profile found no source that says EMSHIELD and MIRALON are the same product.
source: nanocomp-juno-2011
where: Press release body, paragraphs on the material and its use
supply:
- subject: 'Feedstock: natural gas or other hydrocarbons (MIRALON process)'
abundance: Not quantified on the pages read
producers: []
critical_lists: []
substitutes: []
source: miralon-huntsman
where: 'Near Net-Zero Manufacturing Process section: the process takes natural gas or other hydrocarbons and separates them'
- subject: Natural graphite (closest carbon commodity; not MIRALON's feedstock)
abundance: World mine production 1,800,000 tons (2025e, rounded), up from 1,550,000 tons in 2024; world reserves 310,000,000 tons
producers:
- country: China
share_percent: 82
year: 2025
critical_lists: []
substitutes: []
source: usgs-graphite-2026
where: Events, Trends and Issues (China share); World Mine Production and Reserves table (world total, rounded)
media: []
documents:
- title: 'Perigee Direct product page: Miralon Yarn, Thread, String, 2-ply and 4-ply (Typical Physical Properties table)'
type: datasheet
url: https://www.perigeedirect.com/products/miralon-yarn-thread-string-2ply-4ply-carbon-graphene-nanotubes-y-t02c-10-4-y-t02c-10-2-100079-100549
- title: Carbon Nanotube Yarns and Sheets for Structural Components (National Reconnaissance Office, Table 1)
type: report
url: https://www.nano.gov/sites/default/files/carbon_nanotube_yarns_and_sheets_for_structural_components-nro.pdf
year: 2010
- title: MIRALON Carbon Nanotube Materials (Huntsman Corporation product page)
type: datasheet
url: https://www.miralon.com/
- title: 'HSE HSG272: Using nanomaterials at work, including carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and other biopersistent high aspect ratio nanomaterials (HARNs)'
type: report
url: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg272.pdf
year: 2013
- title: 'Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Graphite (Natural)'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-graphite.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'PubChem compound record: Carbon, CID 5462310'
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5462310
- title: Tensile strength and failure modes of continuous carbon nanotube yarns for structural composite application (SAMPE 2020)
type: paper
url: https://www.digitallibrarynasampe.org/data/pdfs/s2020_pdfs/TP20-0000000156.pdf
year: 2020
- title: Nanocomp Reaches New Frontiers on NASA's Juno Mission (press release, copy on aeroweb-fr)
type: report
url: https://www.aeroweb-fr.net/depeches/2011/08/nanocomp-reaches-new-frontiers-on-nasas-juno-mission
year: 2011
gaps:
- Thermal conductivity, electrical resistivity in ohm and a service temperature range for MIRALON were not printed on any page read. The Huntsman page calls the yarn thermally and electrically conductive without numbers.
- The Juno ESD use rests on Huntsman's page for MIRALON and on Nanocomp's 2011 release for EMSHIELD CNT sheet. The release names EMSHIELD, and this profile found no source that links EMSHIELD to MIRALON. No NASA, JPL or flight-data source was read, and no in-flight result was found.
- The SAMPE paper tested as-received Miralon yarn from Nanocomp (LCY) and does not state whether it is the base or the high-strength grade, so its values are not mapped to the Perigee rows.
- The Huntsman 2025 technical data sheet link redirects to a document store and was not read. A search snippet describing its figures was not used as a value.
- The Perigee Direct table is a reseller page with typical values for two yarn grades. The manufacturer's datasheet was not reached, and footnotes (1) and (2) are printed without row markers, so the basis of each row is not stated.
- The NRO report (file dated 2010, citing a 2009 talk) gives current achievements for research CNT yarns and sheets. It does not name MIRALON. Nanocomp's own product site could not be reached in this run; its 2011 Juno release was read as a copy on aeroweb-fr.
- 'Corrosion and ageing: no test data for MIRALON. Perigee Direct says the yarn does not burn, melt or corrode, with no test or condition given.'
- 'Supply: no MIRALON production volume, capacity or country share was found. The graphite figures are for natural graphite, not MIRALON''s feedstock, and the critical-mineral status of natural graphite was not read.'
- 'Hazards: no MIRALON safety data sheet was found. The PubChem carbon record is for elemental carbon, not for CNTs or yarn, and its GHS data were not used.'
- The Perigee claim that the yarn is up to 25 times stronger than steel (specific strength) has no test basis or table on the page, so it is not used as a value.
- 'Property names not in spores/property-canon.yaml, used as short snake_case names: specific_electrical_conductivity, tenacity, linear_density, diameter, specific_stiffness.'
- 'Designations: only the trade name MIRALON is recorded. The Perigee SKU codes are vendor product codes, not grade designations.'
sources:
perigee-miralon:
title: 'Perigee Direct product page: Miralon Yarn, Thread, String, 2-ply and 4-ply (Typical Physical Properties table)'
id: SKU MIRALON_YARN_2PLY_100549_001FT_SAMPLE; Y-T02C-10-4, Y-T02C-10-2, 100079, 100549
url: https://www.perigeedirect.com/products/miralon-yarn-thread-string-2ply-4ply-carbon-graphene-nanotubes-y-t02c-10-4-y-t02c-10-2-100079-100549
kind: datasheet
license: Reseller product page, cited and not reproduced
nro-cnt-yarns:
title: Carbon Nanotube Yarns and Sheets for Structural Components (National Reconnaissance Office, hosted by nano.gov)
id: NRO presentation; PDF metadata created 2010-01-21; cites Lashmore and Antoinette, 2009
url: https://www.nano.gov/sites/default/files/carbon_nanotube_yarns_and_sheets_for_structural_components-nro.pdf
year: 2010
kind: report
license: US federal government document, as hosted by nano.gov
miralon-huntsman:
title: MIRALON Carbon Nanotube Materials (Huntsman Corporation product page)
id: Huntsman Corporation, MIRALON division
url: https://www.miralon.com/
kind: web
license: Manufacturer web page, cited and not reproduced
hsg272:
title: 'HSE HSG272: Using nanomaterials at work, including carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and other biopersistent high aspect ratio nanomaterials (HARNs)'
id: HSE HSG272
url: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg272.pdf
year: 2013
kind: report
license: HSE publication (Crown copyright), cited
usgs-graphite-2026:
title: 'Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Graphite (Natural)'
id: USGS MCS 2026
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-graphite.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: Public domain (USGS)
pubchem-carbon:
title: 'PubChem compound record: Carbon, CID 5462310 (CAS 7440-44-0)'
id: CID 5462310
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5462310
kind: database
license: PubChem public data
sampe-cnt-yarn:
title: Tensile strength and failure modes of continuous carbon nanotube yarns for structural composite application (SAMPE Virtual Conference Proceedings, 2020)
id: SAMPE TP20-0000000156; Dessureault et al., High-Performance Materials Institute, Florida A&M University - Florida State University
url: https://www.digitallibrarynasampe.org/data/pdfs/s2020_pdfs/TP20-0000000156.pdf
year: 2020
kind: paper
license: SAMPE copyright, cited and not reproduced
nanocomp-juno-2011:
title: Nanocomp Reaches New Frontiers on NASA's Juno Mission (press release, copy on aeroweb-fr)
id: Nanocomp Technologies, Inc. press release distributed by Business Wire, 8 August 2011
url: https://www.aeroweb-fr.net/depeches/2011/08/nanocomp-reaches-new-frontiers-on-nasas-juno-mission
year: 2011
kind: web
license: Press release, cited and not reproduced
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-11-01'
review:
status: draft
method: assistant
checked_values: 22
unreachable: 0
caveats: 3
note: 'Written by an assistant on 2026-11-01 from eight sources read in this run: the Perigee Direct product page, the NRO CNT yarn presentation, the Huntsman MIRALON page, HSE HSG272, USGS MCS 2026 graphite, the PubChem carbon record, the 2020 SAMPE paper on Nanocomp Miralon yarn (three properties) and Nanocomp''s 2011 Juno press release (one use). The Perigee values are reseller typical values, not a manufacturer specification. NASA and Nanocomp''s own site were not reached.'
story:
recipe:
line: MIRALON yarn is made of millions of aligned filaments of structured carbon, which the Perigee Direct page describes as carbon nanotubes. The Huntsman page describes an FC-CVD manufacturing process that makes hydrogen as a by-product and a solid carbon product from natural gas or other hydrocarbons.
parts:
- name: Carbon
symbol: C
atoms: 1
atomic_weight: 12.011
role: The only element named for the yarn. Each nanotube wall is a rolled sheet of carbon, so the product is carbon unless catalyst or other material remains. The page does not state the residual content.
risk_groups:
- title: For people
level: 1
verdict: Handle as a precaution
lead: HSE advises a precautionary approach for CNTs that workers may inhale, and no UK exposure limit is set for nanomaterials. No safety data sheet for MIRALON was read.
points:
- label: Inhalation
line: Long straight CNT fibres should be assumed to carry the health effects HSE identifies for biopersistent fibres. Tangled, fluffy bundles may still cause lung inflammation.
- label: Exposure limits
line: HSE says there are no UK statutory workplace exposure limits set specifically for nanomaterials.
- label: Dust
line: PubChem's carbon record, citing ICSC, says carbon powder mixed with air can cause a dust explosion. The note is for carbon powder, not for MIRALON yarn.
why: MIRALON is a carbon nanotube yarn and sheet made by Huntsman Corporation and sold in yarn form by resellers such as Perigee Direct. It matters because it has typical tensile and electrical values printed in a reseller table, and because Huntsman states that MIRALON sheets were used for electrostatic discharge protection on NASA's Juno spacecraft. The Juno use is a manufacturer statement, and no flight data was read in this run.
uses:
- where: Spacecraft ESD protection (manufacturer's claim)
line: Huntsman says MIRALON sheets were laid directly onto a composite spacecraft structure on NASA's Juno spacecraft to protect against electrostatic discharge on the way to Jupiter. The sheets replaced metallic solutions that are typically bonded to the surface.
- where: Antennas and conductive wiring (research)
line: The NRO report shows a woven CNT yarn antenna in Figure 3. It lists mesh antenna structures and conductive wiring among yarn applications.
- where: Composites
line: Perigee Direct lists structural reinforcement in composites and pressure vessels among the yarn's popular uses. The page gives no test data for this use.
can_do:
- label: Strength of the yarn
benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
line: Base yarn has a typical tensile strength of 240 MPa and high-strength yarn 1040 MPa, per Perigee Direct's typical values table. The NRO report gives 3 GPa for research spun CNT yarns and does not name a product.
- label: Electrical conduction
benchmark: specific_electrical_conductivity
line: High-strength yarn has a typical specific electrical conductivity of 18230 S*cm2/g at 20 °C, against 2840 S*cm2/g for base yarn, per Perigee Direct.
- label: Stiffness
benchmark: elastic_modulus
line: Tensile modulus is 4.9 GPa for base yarn and 46.4 GPa for high-strength yarn, both typical values per Perigee Direct.
- label: Density
benchmark: density
line: Yarn density is typically 0.6 g/cm3 for base yarn and 0.8 g/cm3 for high-strength yarn, per Perigee Direct.
compare: The NRO report lists 3 GPa for research spun CNT yarns and says aluminium breaks at 500 MPa and carbon steel at around 1 GPa. The high-strength MIRALON yarn is typically 1040 MPa on the Perigee Direct table, so the two sources do not give the same figure for a yarn product. The NRO report also says CNT yarn and sheet weigh less than half as much as aluminium, a comparison the reseller table does not make.
compare_rows:
- label: High-strength yarn tensile strength (typical)
benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
- label: High-strength yarn density (typical)
benchmark: density
- label: High-strength yarn specific electrical conductivity (typical)
benchmark: specific_electrical_conductivity
handling:
- Store in a cool, dry place, in the original package, away from direct sunlight, per the Perigee Direct storage note.
- Treat loose or powdered CNT material as an inhalation hazard and follow HSE's precautionary approach.
- Ask the supplier for the safety data sheet for the exact product, since none for MIRALON was read in this run.
good_for:
- Lightweight conductive yarn that is stitched, woven or braided, where typical conductivity and strength per unit weight matter more than the highest possible tensile figure.
- Electrostatic discharge layers on composite structures, following the manufacturer's Juno statement.
watch_out:
- The Perigee Direct values are typical values from a reseller, not a manufacturer specification, and the page says so.
- 'Yarn strength depends on the grade: base yarn is 240 MPa and high-strength yarn is 1040 MPa, both typical values.'
- No corrosion, ageing, thermal or temperature-range data for MIRALON was found in the pages read.
- The Juno ESD use is a manufacturer statement without flight data in this profile.
verdict: MIRALON is a commercial carbon nanotube yarn with typical electrical and tensile values and a manufacturer-stated spacecraft ESD use on Juno. The values come from a reseller table and a government report, so this profile stays a draft until the manufacturer datasheet and a flight source are read.
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.
Updated