STRESS-INDUCED FRAGMENTATION OF MULTIWALL CARBON NANOTUBES IN A POLYMER MATRIX

We report the observation of single nanotube fragmentation, under tens ile stresses, using nanotube-containing thin polymeric films. Similar fragmentation tests with single fibers instead of nanotubes are routin ely performed to study the fiber-matrix stress transfer ability in fib er composite materials, and thus the efficiency and quality of composi te interfaces. The multiwall nanotube-matrix stress transfer efficienc y is estimated to be at least one order of magnitude larger than in co nventional fiber-based composites. (C) 1998 American Institute of Phys ics.