Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube–Polymer Composites: Strength and Weakness

Can carbon nanotubes be efficient structural reinforcements for high-strength polymer composites? Here it is shown that, during loading, individual single-walled nanotubes pull out of their bundles (see Figure), making load transfer difficult. It is thus concluded that the effectiveness of reinforcement is determined by the stability and collective behavior of the bundles rather than the strength of individual nanotube components.