Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanotubes-Polymer Composites

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes CNTs , as a one-dimensional material, have outstanding mechanical properties such as extreme tensile strength and Young s modulus. At present, to prepare pure CNTs materials is quite difficult and the mechanical properties of the materials are limited in a low level. Because of their extraordinary mechanical properties and high aspect ratio, CNTs are considered to be ideal candidates for polymer reinforcement. In addition, CNTs/polymer composite materials are much easier to prepare than pure CNTs materials, so they have been paid much attention by researchers recently. However, challenges must be faced to prepare the CNTs/polymer composite with ultimate mechanical properties. So in this chapter, the main concerns are how to disperse CNTs in polymer matrix to prepare homogenous composite dispersions, how to prepare homogenous CNTs/polymer composite using possible fabricating processes based on the homogenous dispersions, how to increase the fiber mechanical properties especially through the enhancing interaction between polymer and CNTs, controlling the amount of CNTs and enhancing their orientation in the matrix.

Carbon Nanotubes as Reinforcing Nanomaterials for Rubbers Used in Electronics

“…The extent of reinforcement effect of CNTs on rubber for the formation of CNTs-based rubber composites with superior properties is highly dependent on a variety of parameters, which normally influence the overall exploitation of the performance of rubber-CNTs composites in an intended application. These include CNTs fabrication method, ratio of CNTs to the amount of rubber matrix, entanglement state of CNTs in the rubber matrix, if CNTs are functionalized or not, functionalization method, matrix type, rubber viscosity, degree of CNTs wetting with rubber, dispersity and dispersion method, interfacial bonding, CNTs structural defects and composite processing method [13,38,54,55]. These parameters are the main key for ensuring the formation of the effective load/stress transfer, normally monitored by Raman Spectroscopy, from the matrix to individual nanotube, which consequently support the effective processing of the formation of rubber-CNTs composites with optimum properties [1,13,21,54,56,57].…”

“…The parameters that define the quality of rubber-CNTs composites have also been reported to affect one another. For instance, the rubber-CNTs interaction, which generally defines the stress transfer capacity, directly affects the dispersion of CNTs in the matrix [13,28,59]. Also, the dispersion of CNTs in the rubber matrix and the interaction of CNTs with the matrix are highly influenced by the functionalization (surface modification) of pristine CNTs which is typically achieved by physical (non-covalent) or chemical (covalent) bonding of organic or inorganic moieties to the tubular structure of CNTs [12,13,28,57,59].…”

“…For instance, the rubber-CNTs interaction, which generally defines the stress transfer capacity, directly affects the dispersion of CNTs in the matrix [13,28,59]. Also, the dispersion of CNTs in the rubber matrix and the interaction of CNTs with the matrix are highly influenced by the functionalization (surface modification) of pristine CNTs which is typically achieved by physical (non-covalent) or chemical (covalent) bonding of organic or inorganic moieties to the tubular structure of CNTs [12,13,28,57,59]. This surface modification of pristine CNTs typically result to modulation of CNTs physicochemical properties, therefore increasing their ease of dispersion and interaction, as well as processability, among different types of rubbers [38,57].…”

“…The main targets under consideration for the application of rubber-CNTs composites in electronics is to manufacture rubber materials that are extremely resistant to different temperature conditions, durable, abrasion resistant, chemical and swelling resistant, thermal resistant, high stretchable and thermo-conductive, and offer proper insulation and sealing [3,8,11,13,61]. CNTs permits the rubber-CNTs composites to maintain their mechanical strength at temperatures as high as 1200°C, therefore electronics rubber materials that comprise of CNTs would Carbon Nanotubes as Reinforcing Nanomaterials for Rubbers Used in Electronics DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94061 be very useful for electronics operating at high temperatures [1,3].…”

“…Since the discovery of CNTs, there have been several research studies aiming at understanding their structure and properties, as well as developing novel applications for them [8,13,21,33]. The main attracting nature of CNTs to produce the CNTsbased rubber composites include excellent electrical conductivity, thermal stability and chemical stability, as well as the superior mechanical properties for load-bearing reinforcements in rubber composites and for structural applications [8,22].…”