The revolutionary creation of new advanced materials—carbon nanotube composites

Since the discovery of carbon nanotubes at the beginning of the last decade, extensive research related to the nanotubes in the fields of chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering, and electrical and electronic engineering has been found increasingly. The nanotubes, having an extreme small physical size (diameter ≈1 nm) and many unique mechanical and electrical properties depending on its hexagonal lattice arrangement and chiral vector have been appreciated as ideal fibres for nanocomposite structures. It has been reported that the nanotubes own a remarkable mechanical properties with theoretical Young's modulus and tensile strength as high as 1 TPa and 200 GPa, respectively. Since the nanotubes are highly chemical insert and able to sustain a high strain (10–30%) without breakage, it could be foreseen that nanotube-related structures could be designed for nanoinstrument to create ultra-small electronic circuits and used as strong, light and high toughness fibres for nanocomposite structures. In this paper, recent researches and applications on carbon nanotubes and nanotube composites are reviewed. The interfacial bonding properties, mechanical performance and reliability of nanotube/polymer composites will be discussed.