Interfacial failure boosts mechanical energy dissipation in carbon nanotube films under ballistic impact

SJ Wang and EL Gao and ZP Xu, CARBON, 146, 139-146 (2019).

DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2019.01.110

High-performance fabrics with outstanding mechanical performance hold great promises in load-bearing and protection applications, where the capability to dissipate mechanical energy is one of the key figures of merits. We study in this work the microstructural evolution and mechanical responses of carbon nanotube films upon ballistic impact. Both cross-ply laminated and non-woven films are explored by molecular dynamics simulations, which are validated by penetration experiments. The results indicate that high stiffness and strength of carbon nanotubes offer excellent mechanical resistance. In addition to brittle fracture of the nanotubes, ductile failure of van der Waals interfaces between the nanotubes in forms of detachment or sliding opens new channels to dissipate mechanical energy resulted from the impact. The reversible nature of intertube interaction endows the film self-healable capabilities, which is superior compared to polymers that are widely used in industry, and graphene multilayers that are fractured by emitting radial cracks. Combined with the fact that carbon nanotubes feature outstanding thermal and chemical stabilities, these findings bring perceptive insights into the design of strong yet dissipative materials for load-bearing and protection applications in harsh environment. (c) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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