Detonation nanodiamond and onion‐like carbon: applications in composites

Abstract

Abstract Several properties and envisioned related applications in structural and functional composites of nanodiamond (ND) and their derivatives, onion‐like carbon (OLC) are reported. The electromagnetic radiation shielding properties of the OLC‐polyurethane composites had been characterized in the 120–165 GHz spectral range for 1–15 wt% OLC loading. It was also demonstrated that nanodiamond particles embedded to a polymer matrix attain photoluminescent properties when irradiated with a flux of MeV protons. This suggests an application of the ND‐polymer coatings as fluorescence‐induced indicators of a proton dose acquired by a spacecraft vehicle. Finally, we report on the fabrication of novel composites of carbon nanotubes incorporated into a nanodiamond matrix obtained by electrophoretic codeposition of these two strongest nanocarbon components. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)