Owing to the recent rapid development of synthesis methods for carbon nanotubes (CNTs), high quality, long and aligned CNT ropes are now available 1-5. These advances in synthesis methods enabled the mechanical properties of CNTs to be more easily assessed, and applications in macroscopic devices and load-bearing structures one step closer to reality. To date, some of the most important mechanical properties of CNTs, such as the Young's modulus and tensile strength, have been characterized experimentally 6-10. At present, however, studies on the long-term performance of CNTs or CNT reinforced composites are still absent. An understanding of their behavior under repeated mechanical loads will enable the potential of CNTs to be better realized for long-term structural applications. In this study, the fatigue behavior of unidirectional, aligned SWNT rope reinforced epoxy composite was investigated. The SWNT ropes used in this study were synthesized by the hydrogen/argon electric arc discharge method, with lengths up to 100 mm 3. The density of the SWNT is 1.138 g/cm~3 and a volume fraction of 65 percent in the SWNT bundles 7. The matrix material used was Epicote 1006 epoxy resin, a room temperature curing system.
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