Synthesis of sea urchin-like particles of carbon nanotubes directly grown on stainless steel cores and their effect on the mechanical properties of polymer composites

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were directly grown on spherical stainless steel (SS) particles of average diameter of 100 nm to produce a structure that resembled sea urchins. Micro-structural observations by scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the CNTs were densely deposited and adhered well to the SS particles. Using these particles as a filler in polymer composites produced a high tensile strength as results of their effective dispersion and good interfacial bonding to the polymer matrix.