Functionalization and strengthening of graphitized untwisted carbon nanotube yarn with hot mixed acid treatment

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have remarkable mechanical properties and low density. Since length of the CNT is limited, CNT yarn is regarded as a reinforced fiber of carbon fiber reinforced plastics. However, the CNT yarn does not have remarkable mechanical properties such as the individual CNT. The most popular way for improving the mechanical properties of the CNT yarn is to make composites with polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol or polyimide. If some functional groups such as carboxyl groups are introduced on the surface of CNTs, interaction between the CNTs and the polymer is improved and high mechanical properties will be obtained. In this study, untwisted CNT yarns were prepared by drawing vertical aligned CNTs through a die and functionalized with mixed acid. Mixed acid introduced not only the functional groups but also defects on the surface of CNTs. For reducing the defects, the CNT yarn was graphitized at a temperature of 2800°C before the mixed acid treatment. By the graphitization treatment, crystallinity of the CNT yarn was improved and amorphous carbon was removed. As a result of XPS analysis, a graphitized CNT yarn treated with mixed acid did not contain the functional groups. On the other hand, a graphitized CNT yarn treated with hot mixed acid (90°C) contained the functional groups. Crystallinity of this yarn was 4.5 times higher than the as-received CNT yarn. In addition, as a result of single fiber tensile tests, tensile strength of this yarn was increased by 79 % and Young’s modulus was increased by 173 % compared to the as-received CNT yarn.