Evaluation of Effect of Annealing and Diameter on Tensile Strength of Carbon Nanotube Using Ultrasonic Cavitation Induced Fragmentation

Abstract

Ultrasonic cavitation induced fragmentation is a simple way to cut carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in suspension. The lengths of fragmented carbon nanotubes are made shorter by iterating ultrasonication but approaches a critical aspect ratio. It is possible to evaluate the tensile strength of CNTs from the critical aspect ratio. In this study, the effects of annealing and diameter on the tensile strength of CNTs are evaluated by using the ultrasonic cavitation induced fragmentation, where annealing and reducing the diameter of CNTs are known as measures to improve the tensile strength of CNTs. Furthermore, the edges of CNTs after ultrasonic cavitation-induced fragmentation were observed by transmission electron microscopy.