Tensile loading of ropes of single wall carbon nanotubes and their mechanical properties

The mechanical response of 15 single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) ropes und er tensile load was measured. For 8 of these ropes strain data were obtaine d and they broke at strain values of 5.3% or lower. The force-strain data a re well fit by a model that assumes the load is carried by the SWCNTs on th e perimeter of each rope. This model provides an average breaking strength of SWCNTs on the perimeter of each rope; the 15 values range from 13 to 52 GPa (mean 30 GPa). Based on the same model the 8 average Young's modulus va lues determined range from 320 to 1470 GPa (mean 1002 GPa).