CARBON NANOTUBES OF POLYETHYLENE

Abstract Crooked carbon nanotubes 10–40 nm in diameter were obtained at 420–450°C by the pyrolysis of granular polyethylene in a helium atmosphere using a Ni plate as catalyst. Production of this powder was 200–300 mg per hour. Their identification was made by transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, electron and X-ray diffraction. The oxidation reaction of the nanotube powder has been studied and compared to the oxidation of polycrystalline graphite and arc-processed multi-shell nanotubes.