CARBON NANOTUBES OF POLYETHYLENE

Crooked carbon nanotubes 10-40 nm in diameter were obtained at 420-450 degrees C by the pyrolysis of granular polyethylene in a helium atmos phere using a Ni plate as catalyst. Production of this powder was 200- 300 mg per hour. Their identification was made by transmission electro n microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, electron and X-ray diffraction. The oxidation reaction of the nanotube powder has been studied and compare d to the oxidation of polycrystalline graphite and are-processed multi -shell nanotubes.