Machines and processes for continuous manufacturing of aligned carbon nanotubes for tough and multifunctional interface layers

Owing to the exceptional and anisotropic properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), vertically aligned CNT "forests" are a highly attractive thin film material for multifunctional enhancement of composite interfaces. We present two designs for continuous manufacturing of aligned CNT forests, wherein high-quality CNT forests are grown on continuously-fed and recirculating substrates. Subsequent transfer printing of CNT forests to aerospace prepregs achieves significant enhancement in interlaminar toughness and demonstrates scalability and integrability for a wide variety of material systems