NANOTUBE-BUCKYPAPER/POLYURETHANE COMPOSITES WITH ENGHANCED MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

Nanotube (NT) papers, or buckypapers, were fabricated by filtering suspensions of either carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) and modified by incorporation of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The resulting NT-TPU composite buckypapers (up to 90% nanotubes by weight) retained the low-density, porous structure typical of buckypaper. The tensile properties were significantly improved by this approach and could be adjusted by changing the ratio of nanotubes to TPU. Modification with TPU also improves the flexibility and robustness of the papers, which are easier to handle and offer opportunities for further composites production by infiltration with other polymers or assembly with other fiber fabrics to form hybrid composites.