title: Mechanically durable and highly conductive elastomeric composites from long single-walled carbon nanotubes mimicking the chain structure of polymers.
abstract: By using long single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as a filler possessing the highest aspect ratio and small diameter, we mimicked the chain structure of polymers in the matrix and realized a highly conductive elastomeric composite (30 S/cm) with an excellent mechanical durability (4500 strain cycles until failure), far superior to any other reported conductive elastomers. This exceptional mechanical durability was explained by the ability of long and traversing SWNTs to deform in concert with the elastomer with minimum stress concentration at their interfaces. The conductivity was sufficient to operate many active electronics components, and thus this material would be useful for practical stretchable electronic devices.
authors.affiliation: Nanotube Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan.
authors.forename: Seisuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ata
authors.forename: Kazufumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobashi
authors.forename: Motoo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yumura
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hata
mesh_terms: D055119:Elastic Modulus; D020724:Elastomers / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D020724:Elastomers; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011108:Polymers