Bhabha Atomic Research Centre has developed a "Large-scale Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes" technology. The Carbon nanotube (CNT) is a one-dimensional concentric tubular structure with hexagonal arrangement of carbon atoms. It is in the form of fine powder, multi walled with 20-50nm diameter, length is 5-10µm (approx) & purity - 95%. CNT is well known for its special properties like very high thermal & electrical conductivities, high tensile strength and high modulus of elasticity, low density, high porosity, chemical stabilities, and high aspect ratio. CNT as an additive filler material with ceramic matrix gives rise to an excellent composite material. Such a composite material is carbon nanotube-boron carbide (CNT-B4C) composite which is produced by hot pressing. These composites materials have nuclear and ballistic applications. Hot pressed CNT-B4C composite has higher fracture toughness and better machinability than hot pressed B4C monolith. Large-scale synthesis of CNT-B4C is required for varieties of applications.
Proposed Specifications of the Carbon Nanotube-Boron Carbide (CNT-B4C) composite tiles are:-
Sr. no. |
Parameter |
Proposed specs.
(CNT-B4C) |
1 |
Size |
50 x 50 x 10 mm and 100 x 100 x 10 mm tiles |
2 |
Lot size |
400 tiles per hot pressing cycle |
2 |
Homogenous mixing of CNT in B4C |
Up to 5 wt% |
3 |
Fracture toughness |
> 4.5 MPa√m |
4 |
Density |
>99.8% of TD |
5 |
Flexural strength |
>450 MPa |
6 |
Hardness |
>35 GPa |
Incubatee should have the following facilities:
- Hot press facility upto 2150 C with 30 GPa Pressure
- Boron carbide machining facility
- Powder mixing facility
- Graphite machining for die making
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