Structural Polymer-Based Carbon Nanotube Composite Fibers: Understanding the Processing–Structure–Performance Relationship

Abstract

Among the many potential applications of carbon nanotubes (CNT), its usage to strengthen polymers has been paid considerable attention due to the exceptional stiffness, excellent strength, and the low density of CNT. This has provided numerous opportunities for the invention of new material systems for applications requiring high strength and high modulus. Precise control over processing factors, including preserving intact CNT structure, uniform dispersion of CNT within the polymer matrix, effective filler–matrix interfacial interactions, and alignment/orientation of polymer chains/CNT, contribute to the composite fibers’ superior properties. For this reason, fabrication methods play an important role in determining the composite fibers’ microstructure and ultimate mechanical behavior. The current state-of-the-art polymer/CNT high-performance composite fibers, especially in regards to processing–structure–performance, are reviewed in this contribution. Future needs for material by design approaches for processing these nano-composite systems are also discussed.

Beads, beaded-fibres and fibres: Tailoring the morphology of poly(caprolactone) using pressurised gyration

“…This is attributed to the viscosity of these solutions ( Table 1) which hindered solvent evaporation, so that the polymer jets have no time to be stretched into fibres before break up due to the centrifugal force overcoming the limited tensile strength of any initially-formed polymer skeleton at the liquid-air interface. The tapered tail (see arrow in as high efficiency filtering membranes and protective clothing due to its high large specific surface area, narrow mesh apertures and good mechanical properties [24,25].…”

3D RVE Models Able to Capture and Quantify the Dispersion, Agglomeration, and Orientation State of CNT in CNT/PP Nanocomposites

“…(Du et al, 2007;Jancar et al, 2010;Song et al, 2013;Liu and Kumar, 2014;Peponib et al, 2014). Non-uniform dispersion of CNT results in CNT agglomerates that act as stress concentration sites.…”

Experimental Tests on Steel Plate-to-Plate Splices Bonded by C-FRPS Laminas with and without Wrapping

“…The use of composite materials is a very promising and increasingly economic method for strengthening steel structures [4][5][6][7][8]. In particular, the application of externally bonded Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (C-FRP) plates [4][5][6]9].…”

“…Nowadays, existing standard [15,16] and purely empirical procedures [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]17] mislead the derivation of the bond-slip characteristics because of the difficulty in measuring the strain distributions and capacities in the small region where debonding occurs.…”