Rheological model predicting compressive responses of carbon nanotube networks

Abstract

Carbon nanotube (CNT) macrostructures like anisotropic CNT arrays and isotropic CNT networks have many unique mechanical properties. Among the various properties of CNT networks, their collective responses to compressive deformation are studied here. A rheological model is found to account for the mechanical properties of CNT networks. The computational results show that the compressive responses of CNT networks include the mechanical action of interconnected springs and dry friction elements. The availability of the model is validated by comparing the computed results to the measured data of different density CNT sponges. The good agreement between the computed and measured results suggests that the compressive responses of CNT segments and the sliding friction between CNTs are the major factors contributing to the compressive responses of CNT networks. The effectiveness of the model in describing the CNT networks also indicates that their collective responses are similar to that of the rheological model during the compression cycle.