Carbon Nanotube-Based Multifunctional Polymer Nanocomposites

Abstract

Advances in synthesis and characterization of nanostructured materials have opened-up a wide range of opportunities for engineering properties of polymer systems using nanoscale reinforcements. Development of this new class of polymer composites, referred to as nanocomposites, has resulted in extensive academic and industrial research in processing, characterization, and modeling of these materials. The understanding of nanocomposite structure/property relationships has evolved in recent years. This paper reviews advances in carbon nanotube-based composites with an aim at tailoring properties for multifunctional applications. Key issues in nanocomposites research are addressed along with opportunities to add new functionalities to existing fiber composite material systems.

Keywords:

• nanocomposites
• carbon nanotubes
• multiscale composites
• mechanical properties
• electrical properties
• thermal properties

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the support of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (Young Investigator Grant FA9550-09-1-0218, Dr. Byung-Lip Lee, Program Director, and Phase II STTR Program FA9550-11-C-0003, Dr. David S. Stargel, Program Director), the US Army Program Executive Office: Soldier and the Army Research Laboratory (Cooperative Agreement W911NF-06-2-011), and the Office of Naval Research (N00014-06-1-1000) and the National Science Foundation National Science Foundation (Grant # 1138182, Dr. Mary Poats, Program Director).