Carbon nano tubes mechanical properties

The functionalized carbon nano tubes can present different mechanical and electrical properties when compared to the unfimctionalized carbon nanotubes. These chemically modified structures can be used to facilitate the interaction of the nanotubes with organic and biological molecules and with other chemical groups as toxic molecules, drugs, and even viruses and bacteria (FUho and Fagan 2007). 

Single-walled carbon nanotubes are known to possess extraordinary strength.138 Mechanical properties of BN nanotubes would be worthy of exploration. Unlike carbon nanotubes, BN nanotubes are predicted to have stable insulating properties independent of their structure and morphology. Thus, BN tubes can be used as nano-insulating devices for encapsulating conducting materials like metallic wires. Filled BN nanotubes are expected to be useful in nanoscale electronic devices and for the preparation of nano-structured ceramics. 

In a similar approach, it is not the monomer, but a solution of the prefabricated polymer (polyacrylonibile in this case) in DMF that is being used. Herein the SWNTs are very finely dispersed. The product then also contains nano tubes aligned in the fiber s longitudinal direction. Another procedure resembles the method of producing carbon fibers from PAN (Section 1.2.3). Here the composite fibers are carbonized to yield a material of nanotube-reinforced carbon fibers. At a nanotube portion of as little as 3%, it already exhibits markedly improved mechanical properties. 

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