Specific heat capacity and density of multi-walled boron nitride nanotubes by chemical vapor deposition

We report on the basic physical quantities of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs), namely specific heat capacity and density, which have not been measured to date. A series of differential scanning calorimetry experiments were performed, and specific heat capacity was calculated for multi-walled BNNTs synthesized by chemical vapor deposition using boron and metal oxide as precursor. Very close specific heat capacity values were revealed for BNNTs and a BN powder of hexagonal (h-BN) phase. Densities of BNNTs were measured through density analyses of their epoxy composites. Our work is important as far as bulk properties of large amounts of BNNTs are crucial, for example, thermal property and density prediction for composite materials with BNNTs embedded. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.