title: Elucidation of the reinforcing mechanism in carbon nanotube/rubber nanocomposites.
abstract: High-performance sealants using rubber composites containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were developed in order to probe and excavate oil in deeper wells. However, the stress-strain behavior and the reinforcing mechanism of highly concentrated MWNT/rubber composites subjected to large deformation remain largely unexplored. Here we report on the complete stress-strain relationships of MWNT/rubber composites under uniaxial tension before rupture, with a suggestion of a novel reinforcement effect of high concentration of MWNTs. A theoretical model is developed to understand the reinforcing mechanism and estimate the mechanical properties of MWNT/rubber composites under large deformation. We have demonstrated that persistence length and reorientation of MWNTs during stretch have a significant impact on mechanical properties, such as the modulus of the rubber composite. These results provide guidelines for developing MWNT-reinforced composites to achieve desired nonlinear and extreme mechanical performance for a wide range of applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Masaei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.forename: Lifeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ueki
authors.forename: Ken-Ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Niihara
authors.forename: Yoong Ahm
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Morinobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Quan-Shui
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D012408:Rubber / Q000737:chemistry*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D012408:Rubber