Self-Collapse and Sliding of Nanotubes in a Bundle

TL;DR

This paper investigates the behavior of nanotubes in bundles, revealing their similarity to liquids with surface tension, and evaluates their mechanical strength and failure modes.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analogy between nanotube bundles and liquids with surface tension, and provides calculations for self-collapse diameters and mechanical properties.

Findings

Nanotube bundles behave like liquids with surface tension.

Self-collapse diameters can be predicted theoretically.

Strength and toughness depend on collapse state and sliding failure.

Abstract

We have discovered that the influence of the surrounding nanotubes in a bundle is similar to that of a liquid having surface tension equal to the surface energy of the nanotubes. This surprising behaviour is confirmed by the calculation of the self-collapse diameters of nanotubes in a bundle. Other systems, such as peapods, fullerites, are similarly treated, including the effect of the presence of a solvent. Finally, we have evaluated the strength and toughness of the nanotube bundle, with or without collapsed nanotubes, assuming a sliding failure.