Abstract

The carbon nanotube efficiency index in a nanocomposite is introduced as the ratio of the load carried by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) at a given average deformation of a matrix to the maximum possible load that can be transferred to the nanotubes at this deformation. The best published results on polymer strengthening with an assessment of CNT efficiency are reviewed. Analysis of the data in publications shows that the upper boundary of CNT efficiency is reached in polymers if a network of interconnected nanotubes is formed inside the polymer. Such a network can be formed by integrating nanotubes into a polymer matrix through covalent binding of nanotubes or by physical entanglement of nanotubes with each other. In thermoplastic crystallizing polymers, the upper boundary of CNT efficiency can also be reached by increasing the degree of polymer crystallinity due to participation of carbon nanotubes and improvement of the microstructure of the polymer including the orientational elongation of the nanocomposite. Nanocomposites of polymers with CNTs are promising for practical application if the nanotube efficiency is close to or exceeds the upper limit.

中文翻译：

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碳纳米管增强结构聚合物的效率

摘要

引入纳米复合材料中的碳纳米管效率指数，作为在给定的平均基质变形下碳纳米管（CNT）承担的载荷与在这种变形下可以转移到纳米管的最大可能载荷之比。综述了有关通过CNT效率评估进行聚合物增强的最佳结果。对出版物中数据的分析表明，如果在聚合物内部形成相互连接的纳米管网络，则可以达到聚合物中CNT效率的上限。这样的网络可以通过纳米管的共价结合或通过纳米管彼此的物理缠结将纳米管整合到聚合物基质中而形成。在热塑性结晶聚合物中，通过增加由于碳纳米管的参与而引起的聚合物结晶度，以及包括纳米复合材料的取向伸长在内的聚合物微观结构的改善，也可以达到CNT效率的上限。如果纳米管效率接近或超过上限，则具有CNT的聚合物的纳米复合材料有望用于实际应用。