Abstract
The current state of characterization techniques for the interface in carbon nanotube-reinforced polymer nanocomposites is reviewed. Different types of interfaces that exist within the nanocomposites are summarized, and current efforts focused on understanding the interfacial properties and interactions are reviewed. The emerging trends in characterization techniques and methodologies for the interface are presented, and their strengths and limitations are summarized. The intrinsic mechanism of the interactions at the interface between the carbon nanotubes and the polymer matrix is discussed. Special attention is given to research efforts focused on chemical functionalization of carbon nanotubes. The benefits and disadvantages associated with covalent and noncovalent functionalization methods are evaluated, respectively. Various techniques used to characterize the properties of the interface are extensively reviewed. How the mechanical and thermal properties of the nanocomposites depend on the physical and chemical nature of the interface is also discussed. Better understanding and design of the interface at the atomic level could become the forefront of research in the polymer community. Potential problems going to be solved are finally highlighted.
Highlights
Since the discovery of carbon nanotubes and, in particular, the realization of their unique performance [1,2,3,4], much effort has been devoted to develop advanced nanocomposites with carbon nanotubes as reinforcement [5,6,7,8,9,10]
Various attempts have been made in recent years to develop ceramic-matrix and metal-matrix nanocomposites with carbon nanotubes as reinforcement [33,34,35,36], but much more attention has been focused on the development of carbon nanotube-reinforced polymer nanocomposites [37,38,39,40]. e outstanding physical and mechanical properties of this new form of carbon have led to significant advances in the development of such nanocomposites for Advances in Materials Science and Engineering both functional and structural applications [41,42,43,44]
The potential of carbon nanotubes as reinforcement for polymers has not yet been fully realized, especially in the resulting mechanical properties [17, 20]. e application of carbon nanotube-reinforced polymer nanocomposites depends strongly on how to effectively address the issues and challenges associated with the fundamental properties of the interface between the carbon nanotubes and the polymer matrix [45, 46]
Summary
Since the discovery of carbon nanotubes and, in particular, the realization of their unique performance [1,2,3,4], much effort has been devoted to develop advanced nanocomposites with carbon nanotubes as reinforcement [5,6,7,8,9,10]. Full understanding of the excellent behavior of carbon nanotubereinforced nanocomposites requires knowledge of the interactions at the interface between the carbon nanotubes and the matrix [11,12,13,14,15,16]. E outstanding physical and mechanical properties of this new form of carbon have led to significant advances in the development of such nanocomposites for Advances in Materials Science and Engineering. Both functional and structural applications [41,42,43,44]. Is review is devoted to characterization techniques for the interface in carbon nanotube-reinforced polymer nanocomposites. Particular emphasis is placed on how to determine the properties of the interface at the nanometer scale for such nanocomposites
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