Mechanical Characterization of Carbon Nanotube Composite Materials

Abstract

The unique mechanical, electrical, and electrochemical properties of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and their versatility render these structures potentially promising for a number of structural biomedical applications. Among a series of critical parameters, such as the diameter and structure of the SWNT, its length is considered crucial in attaining the outstanding mechanical properties that this system exhibits at a molecular level. Therefore, long nanotubes are desirable for achieving high stiffness and strength. In this article, SWNTs and SWNT/organic matrix composites have been fabricated and characterized. Their microstructure has been studied via electron microscopy and a series of mechanical tests on these materials have been performed. Additionally, mathematical formulations are used to obtain the stiffness and strength of SWNTs embedded in organic matrices and a theory–experiment correlation study has been carried out. It is shown that the mechanical properties of nanotubes in composite matrix justify their proposed use as electromechanical actuators.