Strong Carbon‐Nanotube Fibers Spun from Long Carbon‐Nanotube Arrays

Carbon fibers with a twist. Nanotube ribbons with good continuity are initially pulled from a carbon-nanotube (CNT) array of about 650 μm in diameter. The as-spun fiber is relatively loose with noticeable spaces between CNTs or CNT bundles. After spinning and post-spin twisting the packing density of the fibers increases (see figure). The mechanical properties of CNT fibers benefit from the relatively longer array and fiber post-spin treatment.