Embedded carbon-nanotube-stiffened polymer surfaces

A thickness-aligned multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT)/polymer disc was prepared where the MWNTs were reinforced into one of the surfaces of the disc and were aligned in the thickness direction. The discs were made from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) that were both insulating materials. It was found that the aligned arrays of MWNT were grown on a quartz substrate by chemical vapor deposition. The MWNTs were macroscopically aligned but show less overall alignment owing to the waviness of the nanotubes. The surface mechanical properties of the thickness aligned MWNT/polymer composite were studied using Vicker's microhardness as well as through the force curves generated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that the surface conductivity of insulating polymers was improved due to the presence of nanotubes. The nanotube reinforcement causes improvement in the microhardness of the polymer under compressive loads.