NANOMECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF INTERFACES IN BORON NITRIDE AND CARBON NANOTUBES POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES

摘要

The mechanical strengths of the interfaces formed by individual boron nitride and carbon nanotubes with epoxy resins and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) are characterized by in situ electron microscopy nanomechanical single-tube pull-out techniques. The nanomechanical measurements reveal the shear lag effect for the load transfer on the tested nanotube-polymer interfaces. Boron nitride nanotubes are found to be capable of forming stronger binding interfaces with polymers than comparable carbon nanotubes. The research findings help to better understand the load transfer on the tube-polymer interface and the tube's reinforcing mechanism, and contribute to the optimal design and performance of nanotube-reinforced polymer nanocomposites.