Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have identified the cause of mechanical weakness in twisted carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns. The study reveals that twisting introduces defects known as disclinations in the hexagonal arrangement of CNTs, leading to long disclination lines. These lines reduce the tensile strength of CNT yarns, particularly affecting their Young’s modulus. The findings help explain the limitations of CNT bundles and suggest potential improvements for creating high-performance CNT yarns through controlled twisting.
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