China Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Water Dispersion

The use of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in water dispersion has gained significant attention in recent years due to their exceptional mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. However, the dispersibility of SWCNTs remains a major challenge for their rational use in various applications.

In civil engineering and bioengineering, aqueous systems are commonly used as the matrix material for composite materials. Unfortunately, the poor dispersion of SWCNTs in these systems often leads to agglomeration, which not only fails to demonstrate their excellent properties but also damages the inherent properties of the matrix materials. Moreover, the dispersion status of SWCNTs is directly related to the various macroscopic properties of the corresponding composite materials.

To overcome this challenge, researchers have employed different methods to disperse SWCNTs in aqueous systems. For instance, adding 0.1 wt% CNTs to cementitious materials has been found to not only improve the electrical conductivity but also increase the compressive strength by 16.8%. The material exhibited good piezoresistive properties and was sensitive enough to detect the mechanical stress caused by traffic flow.

In addition to their exceptional properties, SWCNTs have been used to modify various materials, including metals, ceramics, asphalt, and polymer materials. They can also be used as toughening and conducting components to simultaneously improve the mechanical toughness and sensing properties of cementitious materials.

The unique structure of SWCNTs, which consists of single or multi-layer graphene sheets bent and rolled into nanoscale hollow tubes, has made them an attractive material for various applications. With their high aspect ratio (100-1,000), modulus of elasticity, and electrical conductivity, micro/nano ductile fibers with high aspect ratio can be used as toughening and conducting components to simultaneously improve the mechanical toughness and sensing properties of cementitious materials.

The development of SWCNTs has a long history that dates back to 1991 when Dr. Iijima, a Japanese physicist, first discovered them using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Since then, significant progress has been made in the production and engineering applications of SWCNTs.

In conclusion, the dispersibility of SWCNTs in water is crucial for their rational use in various applications. The development of efficient methods to disperse SWCNTs will enable the widespread use of these exceptional materials in civil engineering and bioengineering.

China single walled carbon nanotubes water dispersion