Theory 14/Nanoscale/Nanocomposites
Reinforcement Needs Transfer Length
The claim
The reinforcement from nanotubes is set by the ratio of tube length to the critical transfer length, so short tubes add stiffness without strength.
01Mechanism
Load must transfer from matrix to tube along its length; below the critical length the tube slips before carrying its capacity.
02Prediction
Strength should rise sharply above the ratio.
03Refutation
Strength tracking tube volume fraction would remove the length term.