Assisted alignment of carbon nanotubes

Extensive research has been focused on the processing of carbon nanotubes polymeric composites. The ability to impose a preferred alignment of carbon nanotubes in a composite will increase the effectiveness of utilizing nanotubes in composite applications. The alignment of nanotubes will maximize the interfacial bonding across the nanotube matrix interface. Nanomagnetic particles made of magnetite are used to impose preferred orientation on carbon nanotube in a composite matrix. The nanomagnetic particles are attached by surface adsorption to the carbon nanotubes surface. The external applied magnetic field is utilized to attract the nanomagnetic particles toward the higher field. The carbon nanotubes are stretched along the field line because of tie nanoparticles movement toward the higher field. Industrial applications of carbon nanotube composites become more feasible with this technology.