NEW INSIGHTS INTO CONTROLLING SUB-MICRON FAILURE MECHANISMS IN COMPOSITES USING DISCRETE FUNCTIONALIZED MULTIWALL CARBON NANOTUBES

摘要

New technology has been developed that enables multiwall carbon nanotubes to be discrete, high aspect ratio and well bonded to the composite matrix of choice. Several composite types are examined using tubes of diameter about 12 nm and length about 700nm. Fully discrete, well-bonded tubes are shown to significantly enhance the matrix resistance to fracture and can be placed between fiber plies of composites. The challenges of maintaining the exfoliated state of discrete multiwall carbon nanotubes during composite part assembly from the liquid prepolymer to the cured part are discussed.