Structural and mechanical properties of single-wall carbon nanotube fibers

Journal Article · Fri Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 2006 · Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVB.74.245416· OSTI ID:20853985

Pichot, V; Albouy, P A; Launois, P ^[1]; Badaire, S; Zakri, C; Poulin, P ^[2]

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1. Laboratoire de Physique des Solides (UMR CNRS 8502), bat 510, Universite Paris Sud, 91405 Orsay (France)
2. Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, CNRS, Universite Bordeaux I, avenue Schweitzer, 33600 Pessac (France)

We report quantitative experimental study correlating the structure and mechanical properties of fibers made from single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). A post-synthesis solvent drawing treatment is used to vary nanotube alignment, whose detailed understanding is a prerequisite for fiber development. Quantitative analysis of nanotube alignment within the fibers with different draw ratios is performed using x-ray scattering. The method is described in detail, and we also show that the improvement of nanotube alignment with draw ratio can be understood within a model of induced orientation at constant volume. Young's modulus and tensile strength increase with nanotube alignment. This is modeled using continuum mechanics in qualitative agreement with experiment, however quantitative differences show that nanotube alignment is not the only parameter controlling the fiber mechanical properties. We suggest that interaction between the SWNTs and PVA chains should also play a significant role.

• OSTI ID: 20853985
• Journal Information: Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Journal Name: Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics Journal Issue: 24 Vol. 74; ISSN 1098-0121
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CARBON
CARBON FIBERS
NANOTUBES
ORIENTATION
PVA
REINFORCED PLASTICS
SOLVENTS
SYNTHESIS
TENSILE PROPERTIES
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
YOUNG MODULUS