文档介绍：Composites Science and Technology 61 (2001) 1899–1912
pscitech
Advances in the science and technology of
carbon nanotubes and posites: a review
Erik T. Thostensona, Zhifeng Renb, Tsu-Wei Choua,*
aDepartment of Mechanical Engineering and Center posite Materials, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
bDepartment of Physics, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02167, USA
Received 1 May 2001; received in revised form 19 June 2001; accepted 21 June 2001
Abstract
Since their first observation nearly a decade ago by Iijima (Iijima S. Helical microtubules of graphitic carbon Nature. 1991;
354:56–8), carbon nanotubes have been the focus of considerable research. Numerous investigators have since reported remarkable
physical and mechanical properties for this new form of carbon. From unique electronic properties and a thermal conductivity
higher than diamond to mechanical properties where the stiffness, strength and resilience exceeds any current material, carbon
nanotubes offer tremendous opportunities for the development of fundamentally new material systems. In particular, the excep-
tional mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes, combined with their low density, offer scope for the development of nanotube-
posite materials. The potential for posites reinforced with carbon tubes having extraordinary specific stiff-
ness and strength represent tremendous opportunity for application in the 21st century. This paper provides a concise review of
recent advances in carbon nanotubes and posites. We examine the research work reported in the literature on the structure
and processing of carbon nanotubes, as well as characterization and property modeling of carbon nanotubes and posites.
# 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction consequence of their symmetric structure. Many
researchers have reported mechanical properties of car-
In the mid 1980s, Smalley and co-workers at Rice bon nanotubes that exceed those of any previously