Carbon Nanotube Yarn for Lightweight Composite Structure – A Potential for Reducing Carbon Emissions in Aircraft
Keywords:
CarbonAbstract
Carbon nanotube yarns (CNTYs) have emerged as a promising class of materials with extraordinary strength-to-weight ratios, making them strong candidates for next-generation lightweight structural applications. In aerospace, reducing structural mass is critical to improving fuel efficiency and minimizing carbon emissions. This report explores the structural characteristics of CNTYs, their potential advantages over conventional carbon fibers, and their applicability in high-performance composites aimed at sustainability goals. Key challenges to widespread adoption are also discussed, including fabrication, interface mechanics, and standardizationReferences
S. Iijima, Helical microtubules of graphitic carbon, Nature 354 (1991) 56–58. https://doi.org/10.1038/354056a0.
G. Yamamoto, K. Shirasu, Y. Nozaka, Y. Sato, T. Takagi, T. Hashida, Structure–property relationships in thermally-annealed multi-walled carbon nanotubes, Carbon 66 (2014) 219–226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2013.08.061.
R.A. Ramadhan, C. Yu, A. Kunitomo, N. Shigemitsu, T. Shindo, G. Yamamoto, Structure-Mechanical Property Relationships in Carbon Nanotube Yarns, SSP 364 (2024) 3–9. https://doi.org/10.4028/p-gWe5Gw.
Y. Xiang, G. Yamamoto, A Data Mining Approach to Investigate the Carbon Nanotubes Mechanical Properties via High-Throughput Molecular Simulation, MSF 1023 (2021) 29–36. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.1023.29.
H. Zhao, K. Min, N.R. Aluru, Size and Chirality Dependent Elastic Properties of Graphene Nanoribbons under Uniaxial Tension, Nano Lett. 9 (2009) 3012–3015. https://doi.org/10.1021/nl901448z.
J.-W. Kim, G. Sauti, R.A. Wincheski, R.J. Cano, B.D. Jensen, J.G.S. Jr, K.E. Wise, E.J. Siochi, Undirectional Carbon Nanotube Yarn/Polymer Composites, NASA, NASA Langley Research Center, 2018.
Y.S. Cho, J.W. Lee, J. Kim, Y. Jung, S.J. Yang, C.R. Park, Superstrong Carbon Nanotube Yarns by Developing Multiscale Bundle Structures on the Direct Spin‐Line without Post‐Treatment, Advanced Science 10 (2023) 2204250. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202204250.
M. Kühn, Fuel Consumption of the 50 Most Used Passenger Aircraft, (2023). https://www.fzt.haw-hamburg.de/pers/Scholz/arbeiten/TextKuehn.pdf (accessed June 6, 2025).
S. O’Donnell, K. Sprong, B. Haltli, Potential Impact of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Polymer Composite on Commercial Aircraft Performance and Economics, in: AIAA 4th Aviation Technology, Integration and Operations (ATIO) Forum, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Chicago, Illinois, 2004. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2004-6402.
