| Abstract Scope |
CNT turfs, vertically aligned but slightly entangled and tortuous carbon nanotubes, are complex structures with unique materials properties. Mechanical properties of CNT turfs exhibit a time and rate dependency, this affects both adhesive behavior and energy storage and dissipation capability. Electrical contact resistivity suggests a constant number of tubes are in contact at a fixed depth. The quantitative relationship between reduced elastic modulus and maximum current during penetration implies that twisting and bending mechanisms dominate the contact behavior during nanoindentation. Characterization of the structure of CNT turfs, such as density, orientation density function and connection sites, when combined with finite element models of the compression behavior, allows the structure to be linked with the elastic properties of CNT turfs. This allows predictions of comprehensive structure and contact mechanism based on experimental measurements of mechanical and electrical properties. |