Energy dissipation in carbon nanotube composites: a review

In this article we discuss the energy dissipation that occurs when the interfacial slip of nanoscale fillers is activated in a host matrix material. We consider both polymer (such as polycarbonate, PEO, PEG) and epoxy matrices. The nanoscale fillers considered are carbon nanotubes (both singlewalled and multiwalled) as well as fullerenes. The nano-composites are fabricated by using a solution mixing technique with tetra-hydro-furan as the solvent. The interfacial friction damping is quantified by performing uniaxial dynamic load tests and measuring the material storage and loss modulus. We study various effects such as impact of nanotube weight fraction, nanotube surface treatment (oxidation, epoxidation etc.), test frequency, strain amplitude, operating temperature, as well as effect of pre-strain or biased strain. The effect of geometry (i.e., aspect ratio) is also considered by comparing the damping response of fullerene-composites with that of nanotube-composites.