What Kind of Carbon Nanofiber is Ideal for Structural Applications ?

We investigate with molecular mechanics the nature of load transfer for a number of candidate CNT structures that shows promise in enhancing the weak load transfer mechanisms. We extend these studies to an amorphous carbon nanotube, where there is a mixture of trivalent and tetravalent carbon in the wall of the tube, to address the question of whether an a-C NT could be a high stiffness and strength fiber. It seems more likely that such nongraphitized amorphous carbon nanotubes may be synthesized prior to diamond being mass-produced in nanofiber form.