Carbon Nanotubes and Their Composites: A Review (original) (raw)

STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF CARBON NANOTUBE REINFORCED NANOCOMPOSITES

2000

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) possess many unique characteristics that promise to revolutionize the world of structural ma- terials resulting in significant impact on our capability to build lighter, smaller and higher performance structures for aerospace and many other industrial ap- plications. When the CNT are aligned, micromechanical studies showed the po- tential of an order of magnitude increase in mechanical properties

Small but strong: A review of the mechanical properties of carbon nanotube-polymer composites

Carbon, 2006

The superlative mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes make them the filler material of choice for composite reinforcement. In this paper we review the progress to date in the field of mechanical reinforcement of polymers using nanotubes. Initially, the basics of fibre reinforced composites are introduced and the prerequisites for successful reinforcement discussed. The effectiveness of different processing methods is compared and the state of the art demonstrated. In addition we discuss the levels of reinforcement that have actually been achieved. While the focus will be on enhancement of Young's modulus we will also discuss enhancement of strength and toughness. Finally we compare and tabulate these results. This leads to a discussion of the most promising processing methods for mechanical reinforcement and the outlook for the future.

Literature Review Paper on Mechanical Properties of Types of Carbon Nanotubes

Journal of New Developments in Chemistry

Among the numerous potential uses of carbon nanotubes (CNT), its utilization to fortify polymers was given careful consideration. This reason can be because of the remarkable firmness, magnificent quality, and the low thickness of CNT. This has given various chances to the innovation of new material frameworks for applications requiring high quality and high modulus. Exact control over preparing factors, including safeguarding flawless CNT structure, uniform scattering of CNT inside the polymer grid, compelling filler– lattice interfacial communications, and arrangement/introduction of polymer chains/CNT, add to the composite strands' unrivalled properties. Consequently, manufacture techniques assume an imperative part in deciding the composite filaments' microstructure and extreme mechanical conduct. The present best in the class of polymer/CNT elite composite filaments, particularly concerning processing– structure– execution, were looked into in this commitment. Future re...

Evolution of Carbon Nanotubes, Their Methods, and Application as Reinforcements in Polymer Nanocomposites: A Review

Journal of Advanced Mechanical Engineering Applications, 2023

The demand for increased performance in structural materials has drawn attention to the use of fiber materials as a means of reinforcement to provide structural integrity. Carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced polymer nanocomposites have become the go-to materials due to their superior properties. CNTs possess a strength 10-100 times higher than steel yet are lighter in weight. Additionally, CNTs have a remarkable thermal stability of up to 2800°C in a vacuum, and an electrical conductivity of 103 S/cm. It also has an electric-current-carrying capacity 1000 times higher than other materials and a thermal conductivity of around 1900 W m-1 K-1 , which is almost double that of diamond. This article explores the potential of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) to reinforce structural composite materials, improve sensing, and enhance responsiveness. It also examines its structure and classification as single and multi-walled, its synthesis, including laser ablation methods, arc discharge methods, chemical vapor deposition methods, and spray pyrolysis. Additionally, it discusses the applications, structural benefits, and challenges of composite materials.

Mechanical Reinforcement of Polymers Using Carbon Nanotubes

Advanced Materials, 2006

AbstractOwing to their unique mechanical properties, carbon nanotubes are considered to be ideal candidates for polymer reinforcement. However, a large amount of work must be done in order to realize their full potential. Effective processing of nanotubes and polymers to fabricate new ultra-strong composite materials is still a great challenge. This Review explores the progress that has already been made in the area of mechanical reinforcement of polymers using carbon nanotubes. First, the mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes and the system requirements to maximize reinforcement are discussed. Then, main methods described in the literature to produce and process polymer–nanotube composites are considered and analyzed. After that, mechanical properties of various nanotube–polymer composites prepared by different techniques are critically analyzed and compared. Finally, remaining problems, the achievements so far, and the research that needs to be done in the future are discussed.

The Effect of Nanotube Waviness and Agglomeration on the Elastic Property of Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Composites

Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology, 2004

Owing to their superior mechanical and physical properties, carbon nanotubes seem to hold a great promise as an ideal reinforcing material for composites of high-strength and low-density. In most of the experimental results up to date, however, only modest improvements in the strength and stiffness have been achieved by incorporating carbon nanotubes in polymers. In the present paper, the stiffening effect of carbon nanotubes is quantitatively investigated by micromechanics methods. Especially, the effects of the extensively observed waviness and agglomeration of carbon nanotubes are examined theoretically. The Mori-Tanaka effective-field method is first employed to calculate the effective elastic moduli of composites with aligned or randomly oriented straight nanotubes. Then, a novel micromechanics model is developed to consider the waviness or curviness effect of nanotubes, which are assumed to have a helical shape. Finally, the influence of nanotube agglomeration on the effective stiffness is analyzed. Analytical expressions are derived for the effective elastic stiffness of carbon nanotube-reinforced composites with the effects of waviness and agglomeration. It is found that these two mechanisms may reduce the stiffening effect of nanotubes significantly. The present study not only provides the relationship between the effective properties and the morphology of carbon nanotubereinforced composites, but also may be useful for improving and tailoring the mechanical properties of nanotube composites.

Nanomechanics of single-walled carbon nanotubes as composite reinforcement

Polymer Engineering & Science, 2006

An analytical nanomechanics model is developed for predicting the elastic self-consistent properties of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) as composite reinforcement. The molecular structural mechanics is employed to determine the in-plane stiffness and strength of continuous nanotubes in the axial direction of the tube. The effect of tube diameter of the SWCNT on the in-plane stiffness and strength is presented and discussed. The nonlinear stress-strain relationships for defect-free nanotubes have been predicted, which gives an engineering approximation on the ultimate strength and strain to failure of nanotubes. Elastic properties of nanotube composites are further predicted based on a composite micro-mechanics model, using the obtained mechanical properties of nanotubes, volume fraction, and typical polymer matrix properties. Results on the mechanical properties of nanocomposites show that the Young's moduli and strengths of carbon nanotube composites are sensitive to both fiber volume fraction and the tube diameter.

Local Aggregation Effect of Carbon Nanotubes on the Elastic Property of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Composites

Journal of Computational and Theoretical Nanoscience, 2014

This research is aimed at characterizing the elastic properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) reinforced composites using Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka approach based on an equivalent fiber. An embedded carbon nanotube in a polymer matrix and its surrounding interphase is replaced with an equivalent fiber for predicting the mechanical properties of the carbon nanotube/polymer composite. The inter-phase region is treated using van der Waals interactions. The properties of carbon nanotube reinforced (CNTR) composite are affected by its microstructure, especially the degree of CNT aggregation that is described by an aggregation coefficient. It is shown the degree of aggregation can seriously reduce the effective stiffness and frequency parameter.