Applications: Composites

With continued developments in the synthesis and production of carbon nanotubes, composite materials containing nanotubes are a near-term application and will see innovations that take advantage of their special properties. New conducting polymers, multifunctional polymer composites, conducting metal matrix composites, and higher fracture-strength ceramics are just a few of the new materials being processed that make them near-term opportunities. Moreover, high conductors that are multifunctional (electrical and structural), highly anisotropic insulators and high-strength, porous ceramics are more examples of new materials that can come from nanotubes. Figure 11.1 shows some of the opportunities that will emerge from new nanotube-reinforced composites.