Worldwide commercial interest in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is reflected in a production capacity that presently exceeds several thousand tons per year. Currently, bulk CNT powders are incorporated in diverse commercial products ranging from rechargeable batteries, automotive parts, and sporting goods to boat hulls and water filters. Advances in CNT synthesis, purification, and chemical modification are enabling integration of CNTs in thin-film electronics and large-area coatings. Although not yet providing compelling mechanical strength or electrical or thermal conductivities for many applications, CNT yarns and sheets already have promising performance for applications including supercapacitors, actuators, and lightweight electromagnetic shields.

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Carbon Nanotubes: Present and Future Commercial Applications

Department of Materials Science, University of Patras, 26504 Rio Patras, Greece, Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vass. Constantinou Avenue, 116 35 Athens, Greece, Institut de Biologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire, UPR9021 CNRS, Immunologie et Chimie Therapeutiques, 67084 Strasbourg, France, and Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Universita di Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy

Chemistry of Carbon Nanotubes

Small but strong: A review of the mechanical properties of carbon nanotube–polymer composites

Polymer-based composites were heralded in the 1960s as a new paradigm for materials. By dispersing strong, highly stiff fibres in a polymer matrix, high-performance lightweight composites could be developed and tailored to individual applications. Today we stand at a similar threshold in the realm of polymer nanocomposites with the promise of strong, durable, multifunctional materials with low nanofiller content. However, the cost of nanoparticles, their availability and the challenges that remain to achieve good dispersion pose significant obstacles to these goals. Here, we report the creation of polymer nanocomposites with functionalized graphene sheets, which overcome these obstacles and provide superb polymer-particle interactions. An unprecedented shift in glass transition temperature of over 40 degrees C is obtained for poly(acrylonitrile) at 1 wt% functionalized graphene sheet, and with only 0.05 wt% functionalized graphene sheet in poly(methyl methacrylate) there is an improvement of nearly 30 degrees C. Modulus, ultimate strength and thermal stability follow a similar trend, with values for functionalized graphene sheet- poly(methyl methacrylate) rivaling those for single-walled carbon nanotube-poly(methyl methacrylate) composites.

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Functionalized graphene sheets for polymer nanocomposites

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) hold the promise of delivering exceptional mechanical properties and multi-functional characteristics. Ever-increasing interest in applying CNTs in many different fields has led to continued efforts to develop dispersion and functionalization techniques. To employ CNTs as effective reinforcement in polymer nanocomposites, proper dispersion and appropriate interfacial adhesion between the CNTs and polymer matrix have to be guaranteed. This paper reviews the current understanding of CNTs and CNT/polymer nanocomposites with two particular topics: (i) the principles and techniques for CNT dispersion and functionalization and (ii) the effects of CNT dispersion and functionalization on the properties of CNT/polymer nanocomposites. The fabrication techniques and potential applications of CNT/polymer nanocomposites are also highlighted.

Dispersion and functionalization of carbon nanotubes for polymer-based nanocomposites: a review

Carbon nanotube-reinforced epoxy-composites: enhanced stiffness and fracture toughness at low nanotube content

Influence of different carbon nanotubes on the mechanical properties of epoxy matrix composites – A comparative study

Evaluation and identification of electrical and thermal conduction mechanisms in carbon nanotube/epoxy composites

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exhibit a high-potential for the reinforcement of polymers. The mechanical properties of potential matrices of fibre-reinforced polymers (FRP), such as epoxy resins, were significantly increased by low contents of carbon nanotubes (CNT) (tensile strength, Young's modulus and fracture toughness). Nano-particle-reinforced FRPs, containing carbon black (CB) and CNTs could successfully be manufactured via resin transfer moulding (RTM). A filtering effect of the nano-particles by the glass-fibre bundles was not observed. The glass-fibre-reinforced polymers (GFRP) with nanotube/epoxy matrix exhibit significantly improved matrix-dominated properties (e.g. interlaminar shear strength), while the tensile properties were not affected by the nano-fillers, due to the dominating effect of the fibre-reinforcement. The GFRP containing 0.3 wt% amino-functionalised double-wall carbon nanotubes (DWCNT-NH 2 ) exhibit an anisotropic electrical conductivity, whereas the conductivity in plane is one order of magnitude higher than out of plane.

Florian H. Gojny

Papers

Carbon nanotube-reinforced epoxy-composites: enhanced stiffness and fracture toughness at low nanotube content

Influence of different carbon nanotubes on the mechanical properties of epoxy matrix composites – A comparative study

Evaluation and identification of electrical and thermal conduction mechanisms in carbon nanotube/epoxy composites

Influence of nano-modification on the mechanical and electrical properties of conventional fibre-reinforced composites

Fundamental aspects of nano-reinforced composites