DIRECT SPINNING OF CARBON NANOTUBE FIBRES FROM CHEMICAL VAPOUR SYNTHESIS.

Carbon nanotube, CNT, is a one dimensional sp2 allotrope of carbon with cylindrical nanostructure and high aspect ratio (length in microns and diameter in the nanometer order). They could exist as either single-walled nanotube (SWNT) or Multi-walled nanotube (MWNT), depending on the number of layer(s) present. CNTs drawn into fibres shows outstanding mechanical and electrical properties which give them edge in applications such as composites, electrodes, mechanical actuators, power cable and catalyst support, in terms of cost and environmental grounds of its production method.

As a fibre, CNT shows tensile strength in the range of 0.1-1.0Gpa at a typical carbon fibre density (~2g/cc) and could undergo more than 100% strain extension on initial loading before failing. An electrical conductivity value greater than the typical carbon fibre is another interesting property attributed to CNT fibres. 

Although these properties depend on the processing conditions and post processing treatments of the fibre, a good control of these as well as continuous withdrawal of the product with a rotating spindle of appropriate geometry ensures the synthesis of CNTs with potentially excellent properties and broad application.