title: Functionalized few-walled carbon nanotubes for mechanical reinforcement of polymeric composites.
abstract: Compared to single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and more defective multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), the thin few-walled carbon nanotubes (FWNTs) are believed to have extraordinary mechanical properties. However, the enhancement of mechanical properties in FWNTs-polymer composites has remained elusive. In this study, free-standing carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/polymer composite films were fabricated with three types (SWNTs, FWNTs, MWNTs) of functionalized CNTs. The mechanical properties of composite films have been investigated. It is observed that the Young's modulus of composite films with only 0.2 wt % functionalized FWNTs shows a remarkable reinforcement value of dY/dV(f) = 1658 GPa, which is approximately 400 GPa higher than the highest value (dY/dV(f) = 1244 GPa) that was previously reported. In addition, the Young's modulus increased steadily with the increased concentration of FWNTs. The results indicated that FWNTs are practically the optimum reinforcing filler for the next generation of carbon nanotube-based composite materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Hongbo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Yiyu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D019245:Compressive Strength; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008420:Manufactured Materials / Q000032:analysis; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011108:Polymers