Carbon Nanotubes are powerful and lightweight products that possess the ability to modify several industries. They have excellent tensile strength that could rival steel and it is only a few nanometers in terms of width. Besides, these products offer maximum mechanical strength, and electrical conductivity. In this blog, we will be covering the properties of CNTs, their production, future prospects, and obstacles.
For the past few years, carbon nano tubes has garnered attention for its exceptional properties and its potential across various sectors. CNT’s are cylinder-shaped buildings designed out of carbon items in a hexagonal shape. It is classified into two major type’s namely single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes.
SWCNTs features a single layer of carbon whereas MWCNTs contains several layers of graphene. CNTs are best known for its excellent strength, thermal and electrical conductivity. It is considered an ideal option for cutting-edge technologies across various niche including materials, electronics and biomedical sections.
Mechanical properties of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes
Rigidity and tensile strength
Carbon nano tubes possess great tensile strength that would considerably supersede conventional items such as steel, with a strength of nearly 100 Gpa for single shells. It makes it an ideal option for powerful and durable applications. CNTs does possess remarkable stiffness, but certain flaws might affect its strength.
Elasticity and flexibility
CNTs are very powerful and scalable, making it a best choice for various applications that necessitates high quality. They are also capable of bending without further damage and sustaining its structure. Some of the reports suggest that CNTs has the capacity to manage strains up to nearly 5% before it is bended on a permanent basis. As a result, it is considered a suitable option for sensors.
Comparison with various other products
CNTs has better strength-to-weight ratio when compared to steel, thus making it a best option for light weight requirements in sectors like aerospace and automobile industries. Apart from that, vertically aligned carbon nano tubes are more rigid to that of aluminum and titanium. It is less stiff to that of graphene and powerful.
Conclusion
At present, comprehensive research is conducted to create a flexible and budget-friendly way to develop top-quality CNTs. It is also meant to enhance the integration of these products within the materials. Advancement in manufacturing as well as material science focuses on boosting the potential of CNTs.