ABSTRACT
Since the discovery of carbon nanotubes was reported by S. Iijima in 1991 [1], numerous investigators have reported remarkable physical and mechanical properties [2-5]. The density of a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) is about 1.33-1.40 g/cm3, which is just half the density of aluminum. The elastic modulus of SWCNT is about 1.0 TPa and comparable to that of diamonds (1.2 TPa). The reported tensile strength (30 – 150 GPa) of SWCNT is much higher than that of high-strength steel (2 GPa). The tremendous resilience of SWCNT in sustaining bending to large angles and restraightening without damage
5.5 Multiscale Modeling of Carbon-Nanotube-Reinforced Composites ..................................................................................................225 5.5.1 Modeling of Nanotube and Matrix .............................................228 5.5.2 Modeling of Nanotube-Polymer Interface.................................228 5.5.3 Effective Modulus of Nanotube-Polymer Composites ............230 5.5.4 Stress Distributions in Nanotube-Polymer Composites ......... 231
5.6 Nanotube-Based Conductive Composites..............................................234 5.6.1 Percolation Threshold ...................................................................235 5.6.2 Backbone of Percolating Network ............................................... 240 5.6.3 Contact Resistance ......................................................................... 245 5.6.4 Electrical Conductivity of Nanotube-Based Composites .........250
