AUTHORS: Rodney Andrews, Eric Grulke, David Jacques, Apparao Rao and Frank Derbyshire
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40511-8410
As reinforcing fillers in polymers, single or multiwalled nanotubes may greatly enhance the mechanical properties of polymer-nanotube composites in the form of fibers and films; increasing the tensile strength, elastic modulus, and electrical conductivity. The paper will describe the formation and properties of composites of nanotubes with thermosetting polymers. Appropriate polymer selection can also provide a route to carbon-nanotube composite materials such as fibers, films and coatings.