title: Investigation of the radial compression of carbon nanotubes with a scanning probe microscope
abstract: Efforts have been made to characterize the mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes. Previous work has concentrated on the tubes' longitudinal properties, and studies of their radial properties have lagged behind. We have used a scanning probe microscope with an indentation/scratch function to investigate the radial compression of multiwalled carbon nanotubes under an asymmetric stress. In particular, we have determined the radial compressive elastic modulus at different compression levels and have estimated the compressive strength to be well beyond 5.3 GPa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197, USA.
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.initials: Ss
authors.lastname: Xie