Predicting the Reliability of Aligned Carbon Nanotube Bundles in Mechanical Structures

Abstract

We report new experimental and theoretical study of mechanical property of aligned and nonaligned (entangled) single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), and their effect on nanostructures. Experimentally, the contact mode atomic force microscopy cantilever tip is used to measure the Young’s modulus of aligned and nonaligned SWCNTs. The measured Young's modulus of aligned SWCNT bundles ranged between 1100 GPa (1.1 TPa) and 1300 GPa (1.3 TPa) with a relative uncertainty of 5 % whereas that of the entangled SWCNT bundles ranged between 500 GPa and 700 GPa. Young’s modulus increase with aligned SWCNT bundles and then increase their performance in nanostructure comparing with entangled SWCNT bundles. We put emphasis on the combination of physical modeling and reliability based design optimization of nanomaterials. After investigation, we could make suggestions such as how to improve the reliability of nanodevices and nanosystems, and how to reduce cost and economic rates.