Fabrication and distribution characteristics of polyurethane/single-walled carbon nanotube composite with anisotropic structure

A polyurethane/single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) composite with anisotropic structure is synthesized by two-step process. The effects of external force during the curing process of the composite as well as the tensile stress oil the distribution of the SWCNTs in the matrix have been examined by using field-emission scanning electron microscope. The microstructure analysis results indicate that the different distributions of the SWCNTs in the matrix have appeared along two orthogonal directions for the composite samples. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.