DOI: 10.1126/science.1104276. Multifunctional Carbon Nanotube Yarns by Downsizing an Ancient Technology

Multifunctional Carbon Nanotube Yarns by Downsizing an Ancient Technology

10.1126/science.1104276

Crossref journal-article

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Science (221)

Abstract

By introducing twist during spinning of multiwalled carbon nanotubes from nanotube forests to make multi-ply, torque-stabilized yarns, we achieve yarn strengths greater than 460 megapascals. These yarns deform hysteretically over large strain ranges, reversibly providing up to 48% energy damping, and are nearly as tough as fibers used for bulletproof vests. Unlike ordinary fibers and yarns, these nanotube yarns are not degraded in strength by overhand knotting. They also retain their strength and flexibility after heating in air at 450°C for an hour or when immersed in liquid nitrogen. High creep resistance and high electrical conductivity are observed and are retained after polymer infiltration, which substantially increases yarn strength.

Bibliography

Zhang, M., Atkinson, K. R., & Baughman, R. H. (2004). Multifunctional Carbon Nanotube Yarns by Downsizing an Ancient Technology. Science, 306(5700), 1358â1361.

Authors 3

Mei Zhang (first)
Ken R. Atkinson (additional)
Ray H. Baughman (additional)

References 22 Referenced 1,568

E. J. W. Barber Prehistoric Textiles (Princeton Univ. Press Princeton NJ 1992).
10.1126/science.1060928
10.1126/science.290.5495.1331
10.1126/science.1101398
S. Kumar et al., Macromolecules35, 9039 (2002). (10.1021/ma0205055) / Macromolecules (2002)
10.1038/423703a
10.1038/419801a
10.1126/science.1094982
J. W. S. Hearle P. Grosberg S. Backer Structural Mechanics of Fibers Yarns and Fabrics vol. 1 (Wiley New York 1969).
Aligned nanotube forests comprising MWNTs ∼8 to ∼15 nm in diameter were synthesized in a quartz tube 45 mm in diameter by atmospheric-pressure CVD of 5 mol % C 2 H 2 in He at 680°C at a total flow rate of 580 sccm for 10 min. The catalyst was an iron film 5 nm thick that was deposited on a Si wafer substrate by electron beam evaporation. SEM and thermal gravimetric measurements indicated that the purity of the spun yarns was very high (∼96 to 98% C in the form of MWNTs) with 2 to 4% Fe and amorphous carbon. No carbon particles were observed.
10.1126/science.283.5401.512
10.1126/science.282.5391.1105
See supporting data on Science Online.
R. B. Pipes, P. Hubert, Compos. Sci. Technol.62, 419 (2002). (10.1016/S0266-3538(02)00002-7) / Compos. Sci. Technol. (2002)
D. Qian, W. K. Liu, R. S. Ruoff, Compos. Sci. Technol.63, 1561 (2003). (10.1016/S0266-3538(03)00064-2) / Compos. Sci. Technol. (2003)
A. M. Saitta, P. D. Soper, E. Wasserman, M. L. Klein, Nature399, 46 (1999). (10.1038/19935) / Nature (1999)
Y. Arai et al., Nature399, 446 (1999). (10.1038/20894) / Nature (1999)
MWNT/PVA composite yarns were made either by soaking a singles yarn for 15 hours in 5 wt % aqueous PVA solution or by passing a singles yarn through a drop of this solution during spinning and then drying. The molecular weight of the PVA was in the range 77 000 to 79 000 and it was 99.0 to 99.8% hydrolyzed.
J.-B. Donnet Carbon Fibers (Dekker New York 1998). (10.1201/9781482285390)
10.1126/science.279.5356.1522
J. W. S. Hearle, J. Polym. Sci. C20, 215 (1967). (10.1002/polc.5070200118) / J. Polym. Sci. C (1967)
We thank the staff of the University of Texas at Dallas NanoTech Institute and clean room for their assistance. Supported by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency/U.S. Army Research Office grant W911NF-04-1-0174 Texas Advanced Technology Program grant 009741-0130-2003 and the Robert A. Welch Foundation.

Dates

Type	When
Created	20 years, 9 months ago (Nov. 18, 2004, 4:33 p.m.)
Deposited	1 year, 7 months ago (Jan. 9, 2024, 11:44 p.m.)
Indexed	3 days ago (Aug. 19, 2025, 5:58 a.m.)
Issued	20 years, 9 months ago (Nov. 19, 2004)
Published	20 years, 9 months ago (Nov. 19, 2004)
Published Print	20 years, 9 months ago (Nov. 19, 2004)

Funders 0

None

BibTeX

@article{Zhang_2004, title={Multifunctional Carbon Nanotube Yarns by Downsizing an Ancient Technology}, volume={306}, ISSN={1095-9203}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1104276}, DOI={10.1126/science.1104276}, number={5700}, journal={Science}, publisher={American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)}, author={Zhang, Mei and Atkinson, Ken R. and Baughman, Ray H.}, year={2004}, month=nov, pages={1358–1361} }

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