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Title: Mechanical strength of boron nitride nanotube-polymer interfaces

Journal Article · · Applied Physics Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4936755· OSTI ID:22486283
;  [1]; ;  [2];  [3];  [3]
  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, New York 13902 (United States)
  2. College of Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602 (United States)
  3. NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia 23681 (United States)

We investigate the mechanical strength of boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) polymer interfaces by using in situ electron microscopy nanomechanical single-tube pull-out techniques. The nanomechanical measurements show that the shear strengths of BNNT-epoxy and BNNT-poly(methyl methacrylate) interfaces reach 323 and 219 MPa, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the superior load transfer capacity of BNNT-polymer interfaces is ascribed to both the strong van der Waals interactions and Coulomb interactions on BNNT-polymer interfaces. The findings of the extraordinary mechanical strength of BNNT-polymer interfaces suggest that BNNTs are excellent reinforcing nanofiller materials for light-weight and high-strength polymer nanocomposites.

OSTI ID:
22486283
Journal Information:
Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 107, Issue 25; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English