title: Super-compressible foamlike carbon nanotube films.
abstract: We report that freestanding films of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes exhibit super-compressible foamlike behavior. Under compression, the nanotubes collectively form zigzag buckles that can fully unfold to their original length upon load release. Compared with conventional low-density flexible foams, the nanotube films show much higher compressive strength, recovery rate, and sag factor, and the open-cell nature of the nanotube arrays gives excellent breathability. The nanotube films present a class of open-cell foam structures, consisting of well-arranged one-dimensional units (nanotube struts). The lightweight, highly resilient nanotube films may be useful as compliant and energy-absorbing coatings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA. anyuan@hawaii.edu
authors.forename: Anyuan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Pamela L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Dickrell
authors.forename: W Gregory
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Sawyer
authors.forename: Mehrdad N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Ghasemi-Nejhad
authors.forename: Pulickel M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Ajayan