Ajayan, Pulickel M.2011-07-252011-07-252010Carey, Brent J.. "Tailoring vertically-aligned carbon nanotube growth for poly(dimethylsiloxane)-infiltrated nanocomposites." (2010) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/62220">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/62220</a>.https://hdl.handle.net/1911/62220This thesis discusses the viability of the polymer infiltration nanocomposite preparation technique for aligned carbon nanotubes (A-CNTs) as produced by two methods: pre-deposited catalyst chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and vapor-phase CVD. Both types of growth furnaces were constructed, and the resultant A-CNT "forests" were impregnated with poly(dimethylsiloxane), a highly-compliant silicone elastomer. The survivability of the CNT alignment subsequent to the polymer infiltration was studied for the respective nanocomposites, and it was observed that the thin-walled CNTs produced by the pre-deposited catalyst CVD method were not robust enough to maintain alignment during the infiltration, in contrast to the thicker-walled vapor-phase-grown CNTs. The dynamic mechanical properties of the successfully-impregnated composites were then studied, and their strain- and frequency-dependent behavior was probed both transverse and longitudinal to the alignment direction of the CNTs, revealing distinct responses due to their anisotropy.application/pdfengCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.EngineeringMaterials scienceThesisTHESIS PHYS. 2010 CAREY