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Mass production of CNTs using CVD multi-quartz tubes

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Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have become the backbone of modern industries, including lightweight and heavy-duty industrial applications. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is considered as the most common method used to synthesize high yield CNTs. This work aims to develop the traditional CVD for the mass production of more economical CNTs, meeting the growing CNT demands among consumers by increasing the number of three particular reactors. All reactors housing is connected by small channels to provide the heat exchange possibility between the chambers, thereby decreasing synthesis time and reducing heat losses inside the ceramic body of the furnace. The novel design is simple and cheap with a lower reacting time and heat loss compared with the traditional CVD design. Methane, hydrogen, argon, and catalyzed iron nanoparticles were used as a carbon source and catalyst during the synthesis process. In addition, CNTs were produced using only a single quartz tube for comparison. The produced samples were examined using XRD, TEM, SEM, FTIR, and TGA. The results showed that the yield of CNTs increases by 287 % compared with those synthesized with a single quartz tube. Moreover, the total synthesis time of CNTs decreases by 37 % because of decreased heat leakage.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Production Engineering and Printing Technology, Akhbar Elyom Academy, Giza, 12566, Egypt

    Samy Yousef & Alaa Mohamed

Authors
  1. Samy Yousef
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  2. Alaa Mohamed
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Correspondence to Alaa Mohamed.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Taesung Kim

Alaa Mohamed received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Design and Production Engineering from Cairo University, Egypt in 2009 and 2014, respectively. Afterwards, he obtained a postdoctoral fellowship in KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Materials and Nanophysics, Sweden. The subject of his research is the study of photocatalytic degradation of organic days in water treatment by composite nanofibers under ultraviolet and visible light irradiation. Dr. Alaa Mohamed is currently working as a Lecturer of Machine Design at Akhbar Elyom Academy, Egypt. His research interests include the synthesis of carbon nanotubes and its applications, as well as nanolubricant and photocatalytic technology.

Samy Yousef received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Design and Production Engineering from Cairo University, Egypt in 2009 and 2014, respectively. He then obtained a postdoctoral fellowship at Department of Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering Chemistry, Messina University, Italy, in the field of biomaterials. Dr. Samy Yousef is currently working as a Lecturer of Machine Design at Akhbar Elyom Academy, Egypt. His research interests are in the area of carbon nanotubes, joint replacement simulators, and polymer nanocomposites for heavy duty applications.

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Yousef, S., Mohamed, A. Mass production of CNTs using CVD multi-quartz tubes. J Mech Sci Technol 30, 5135–5141 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-016-1031-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-016-1031-7

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