Detachment of nanotubes from a polymer matrix

A technique to investigate the adhesion of carbon nanotubes to a polymer matrix is described. Carbon nanotubes bridging across holes in an epoxy matrix have been drawn out using the tip of a scanning probe microscope while recording the forces involved. A full force-displacement trace could be recorded and correlated with transmission electron micrographs observations prior and subsequent to the tip action. Based on these experiments, an approximate calculation of the nanotube-polymer interfacial shear strength has been performed. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.