I&EC 261 |
| Cheol Park1, Kristopher E. Wise1, Zoubeida Ounaies2, Micahel W. Smith3, Sharon E. Lowther3, Peter T. Lillehei3, Emilie J. Siochi3, and Joycelyn S. Harrison3. (1) Advanced Materials and Processing Branch, National Institute of Aerospace, MS 226 NASA Langley, 6 West Taylor Street, Hampton, VA 23681, (2) VA Commonwealth University, (3) Advanced Materials and Processing Branch, NASA Langley, MS 226 NASA Langley, 6 West Taylor Street, Hampton, VA 23681 |
| Most future aerospace vehicles require significant reduction in mass and size of components, accompanied by an increase in the intelligence of these components. This may be achieved by taking advantage of multifunctionality in the structural members of the vehicles. It is envisioned that the unusual combination of properties possessed by single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) will enable these novel design concepts if major issues can be overcome. The most significant challenges in translating the excellent properties of nanotubes into macrostructures include lack of availability of SWNT having reliably good quality, difficulty in achieving efficient dispersion of nanotubes in a polymer matrix and interpretation and assessment of the dispersion quality. In this presentation, progress made in these areas is discussed. The report includes results from ongoing research regarding high production rate synthesis of SWNT using ultrafast pulses from free electron laser, the preparation and processing of films, fibers and woven mats from both thermodynamically and kinetically stable solutions of SWNT in a series of polymers. Dispersion quality in the resulting nanocomposites and the nature of the interaction between the nanotube and the polymer matrix were investigated via spectroscopy and microscopy. Additionally, the electroactive response of the nanocomposites was studied to assess their potential for sensor and actuator applications. Analytical calculations and numerical simulations, performed to augment the experimental work, are also described. |
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Purification, Separation, and Characterization of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNT's) (sponsored by Advanced Materials & Nanotechnology Subdivision)
8:30 AM-12:20 PM, Thursday, April 1, 2004 Marriott -- Orange County 1, Oral
Division of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry |