Improved structure and properties of single-wall carbon nanotube spun fibers

This letter describes a method to improve the alignment of single-wall carbon nanotubes in macroscopic fibers produced by a simple spinning process. By contrast to classical composite fibers, where the nanotubes are embedded in a polymeric matrix, they consist of an interconnected network of polymers and nanotubes. This network can be swollen and stretched when the fibers are immersed in an appropriate solvent. The nanotubes alignment, studied by x-ray scattering, is significantly improved by the treatment. The fiber Young's modulus can also be increased by a factor of 4. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.