Carbon nanotube chains in a shape memory polymer/carbon black composite: To significantly reduce the electrical resistivity

Instead of individually aligned along the external electric field, the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were electrically induced into aligned chains in a shape memory polymer (SMP)/carbon black (CB) composite, which would serve as long-distance conductive channels to bridge the CB aggregations. Compared with SMP composites with randomly filled CNTs, the electrical resistivity in those with chained CNTs was reduced for more than 100 times. The fabricated conductive SMP composites could be actuated by a low electrical power. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3556621]