Mechanical strength of boron nitride nanotube-polymer interfaces

Abstract

We investigate the mechanical strength of boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) polymer interfaces by using in situ electron microscopy nanomechanical single-tube pull-out techniques. The nanomechanical measurements show that the shear strengths of BNNT-epoxy and BNNT-poly(methyl methacrylate) interfaces reach 323 and 219 MPa, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the superior load transfer capacity of BNNT-polymer interfaces is ascribed to both the strong van der Waals interactions and Coulomb interactions on BNNT-polymer interfaces. The findings of the extraordinary mechanical strength of BNNT-polymer interfaces suggest that BNNTs are excellent reinforcing nanofiller materials for light-weight and high-strength polymer nanocomposites.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Dec 21, 2015
Source ID
10.1063/1.4936755

Entities

People

  • Catharine C. Fay
  • Changhong Ke
  • Cheol Young Park
  • Liuyang Zhang
  • Xianqiao Wang
  • Xiaoming Chen

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Binghamton University
  • Division of Civil, Mechanical & Manufacturing Innovation
  • Langley Research Center
  • University of Georgia
  • University of Virginia

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Mechanical Engineering/Mechanics of Materials.
  • Nanocomposite Materials Science
  • Quantum Chemistry

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Graphene