Bong Sup Shim1, Szushen Ho1, Paul Podsiadlo2, and Nicholas A. Kotov2. (1) University of Michigan, 2300 Hayward, 3074 HH Dow Bldg., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, (2) Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2300 Hayward St., 3074 H. H. Dow Bldg., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2136
Significant improvement in mechanical properties in thin film composites was achieved when single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) - poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composites were fabricated by the layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly technique. Unique, molecularly controlled structures, high loading of SWNT content in the composites, and distributional homogeneity of SWNTs were obtained by low viscosity solution state LBL assembly. The effective reinforcements were also materialized by forming cross-linking between PVA and SWNTs including post heat treatment, chemical crosslinking, and metal ion crosslinking methods. Mechanical property measurements of the SWNT-polymer LBL thin films by direct stretching tests and micro bulging tests were also compared.