Direct spinning of carbon nanotube fibres from liquid feedstock

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes are regarded by many as being the next generation in high performance materials due to their unique properties. The Cambridge Process was developed to utilize these unique properties by directly spinning carbon nanotube fibres drawn from an aerogel sock. The sock is formed from carbon nanotubes grown via a catalytic chemical vapour deposition (CVD) process. Due to the nature of CVD, the process is readily scalable. Kilometres of fibre can be made at a rate of 20 m/min. Altering process parameters (catalyst concentration, feedstock injection rate, furnace temperature, and gas flow rate) allows the production of nanotubes of a desired morphology. The fibres have been characterized with scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Xray diffraction, and Raman Spectroscopy in order to confirm nanotube composition and orientation. The fibre possesses mechanical and electrical properties that rival or exceed those of present-day materials. Mechanical properties can be enhanced by increasing the degree of orientation of the nanotubes with the long axis of the fibre and by overall densification. These effects can be accomplished through drawing the fibre and solvent treatment.

Enhanced gas permeability by fabricating mixed matrix membranes of functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes and polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIM)

“…3 shows the cross section and surface (inset) SEM images of the prepared membrane. MWCNTs and SWCNTs (π-π interaction) are stronger than those with the polymer matrix [45,46]. Therefore pristine SWCNTs and MWCNTs tend to agglomerate, do not distribute well and form a micron level sponge structure within PIM-1 matrix.…”

Dissolution of MWCNTs by using polyoxadiazoles, and highly effective reinforcement of their composite films

“…It is worth noting that, as reported in the literature, pristine CNTs are usually found to be not well dispersed in different polymer matrices. 16,17 Carbon nanotubes possess an extremely high tensile modulus (50-1000 GPa), [18][19][20] tensile strength (20-150 GPa) [21][22][23] and high aspect ratio (tipically ca. 300-1000).…”

Continuous production of flexible carbon nanotube-based transparent conductive films

“…From our previous work [9][10][11][12][13], the general trend observed in this process is that an increase in temperature causes a change in the type of CNT grown, from single to multi-walled, as well as an exponential increase in the amount of carbon deposited. It has been previously shown that for temperatures above 1100…”