Polymer Nanotube Composites Promises and Current Challenges

Polymer Nanotube Composites Promises and Current Challenges 

Department of Mechanical Engineering The American University in Cairo, New Cairo Campus AUC Avenue, P.O. Box 74 New Cairo 11835, Egypt 

Two case studies are presented in which polymer nanotube composites are proposed as replacements for conventional materials. We evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of using them as smart materials for strain gauges thus, exploiting their electrical properties, and as structural materials for aircraft panels bringing into play their mechanical properties. Our analysis shows that as new strain gauge materials, polymer nanotube composites offer many advantages. As a possible replacement for aluminum in an aircraft panel, it is found that a hybrid composite of (Epoxy 33% carbon fabric + 30% carbon fibers + 3% CVD-MWNT) is an attractive candidate. 

Keywords polymer matrix composites carbon nanotubes cost materials substitution. 

Mittal (ed.) Polymer Nanotube Nanocomposites, (425-450) Scrivener Publishing LLC 

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