Nanomaterials
Recent work, performed by Florida State University and Texas Tech University, leveraged the TCi’s capabilities to help investigate different methods used to shorten carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for improved dispersion with maintained thermal conductivity. Single walled CNT’s were mechanically cut to produce short and open-ended fullerene pipes. A seprate sample set was then acid-oxidized to shorten the CNTs.
Shortened nanotubes were found to improve dispersion into polymer matrices, and resulting in higher thermal conductivity.
Mechanically chopped CNTs performed significantly better than acid oxidized samples, which resulted in degraded CNTs and an overall lower thermal conductivity of the resin composite.
