Tuning the compressive mechanical properties of carbon nanotube foam

• Published in: Carbon (New York) Vol. 49; no. 8; pp. 2834 - 2841
• Main Authors: Bradford, Philip D., Wang, Xin, Zhao, Haibo, Zhu, Y.T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Arrays; Carbon nanotubes; Chemical vapor deposition; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Compressive properties; Compressive strength; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Emulsions. Microemulsions. Foams; Exact sciences and technology; Foams; Fullerenes and related materials; diamonds, graphite; General and physical chemistry; Materials science; Mechanical properties; Physics; Plastic foam; Specific materials; CVD; Foams; Deformation; Growth; Roughness; Carbon nanotubes; Mechanical properties; High temperature; Structure; Recovery; Diameter
• ISSN: 0008-6223; 1873-3891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2011.03.012

A post-growth chemical vapor deposition (CVD) treatment was used to tune the compressive mechanical properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays. Millimeter tall CNT arrays with low compressive resilience were changed to a foam-like material with high compressive strength and almost complete recovery upon unloading. The foam was tuned to provide a range of compressive properties for various applications. The treated arrays demonstrated compressive strength up to 35× greater than the as-grown CNT array. Unlike polymeric foams, the CNT foam did not decompose after exposure to high temperatures. Investigation of the foam structure revealed that the CVD treatment increased CNT diameter through radial growth, while increasing the CNT surface roughness. The morphological changes help to explain the increase in CNT array compressive strength and the transition from permanent array deformation to foam-like recovery after compressive loading.