Chemical Bonding of Polymer on Carbon Nanotube

Abstract

Recently, carbon nanotubes are considered as nanoscale fibers, which can strengthen polymer composite materials. Nanotube-polymer composite materials can be used for micron scale devices with designed mechanical properties and smart polymer coating to protect materials under extreme physical conditions such as microsatellites. To explore these possibilities it is important to develop a detailed atomic scale understanding of the mechanical coupling between polymer matrix and embedded nanotubes. In this work we study the chemical bonding between polymer molecules and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using molecular dynamics. Study shows that the bonding between polyethylene and a CNT is energetically favorable. Chemical bonds can be formed at multiple sites, which make the mechanical load transfer from the polymer chain to the tube more favorable. We will discuss about the resulting mechanical coupling between the CNTs and polymer matrix to develop efficient nano-composite materials.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADP012151

Entities

People

  • Chengyu Wei
  • Kyeongjae Cho

Organizations

  • Stanford University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • California
  • Carbon Nanotube Composites
  • Carbon Nanotubes
  • Composite Materials
  • Density Functional Theory
  • Dielectric Polymers
  • Fibers
  • Fullerenes
  • Graphitic Materials
  • Materials
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Molecular Dynamics
  • Paper
  • Polymer Matrix Composites
  • Polymers
  • Simulations

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Nanocomposite Materials Science