Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Year: 2012
Volume: 7
Issue: 5
Page No. 379 - 382

Optimization of Electrical Parameters for Production of Carbon Nanotubes in Arc Discharge Technique

Authors : Sayantan Chattopadhyay and Kalyan Kumar Singh

Abstract: Through extensive research for >2 decades on the production of Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) and optimization of its manufacture for the industrial applications, it is believed that they are the strong enough but most flexible materials known to humankind. It is known that carbon nanotubes could behave as the ultimate 1-dimensional material with remarkable mechanical properties. Moreover, carbon nanotubes exhibit strong electrical and thermal conducting properties. In the process of optimizing the production in line with the industrial application, the researchers have found a new material to act as an anode, i.e., coal which is inexpensive as compared to graphite. The production of carbon nanotubes in large quantities is possible with inexpensive coal as the starting carbon source by the Arc Discharge Technique. It is found that a large amount of carbon nanotubes of good quality can be obtained in the cathode deposits in which carbon nanotubes are present in nest-like bundles. This study primarily concentrates on the optimising such parameters related to the mass production of the product. It has been reviewed by the past researchers that through the process optimization, one of the main variables had been the electrical parameters. It has been shown in this study, through simplex process that based on the cost of the SWNT obtained by the Arc Discharge Technique, the voltage and the current should lie in the range of 30-42 V and 49-66 A, respectively. Any combination above the given values will lead to a power consumption cost beyond the final product cost in turn leading to infeasibility of the process.

How to cite this article:

Sayantan Chattopadhyay and Kalyan Kumar Singh, 2012. Optimization of Electrical Parameters for Production of Carbon Nanotubes in Arc Discharge Technique. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 7: 379-382.

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