The present work studies the synergistic effect of self-assembly multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanopaper and sub-micro nickel nanostrand on the electrical properties and electro-active recovery behavior of shape memory polymer (SMP) nanocomposite. The combination of MWCNT nanopaper and nickel nanostrand is used to improve the electrical and thermal conductivities of the SMP nanocomposite. The electrical MWCNT nanopaper was coated on the surface to achieve the shape recovery of the SMP nanocomposite induced by electricity. Electromagnetic nickel nanostrands were blended with and, vertically aligned into the SMP resin in a magnetic field, to improve the thermal conductivity. The vertically aligned nickel nanostrands will facilitate the heat transfer from the nanopaper to the underlying SMP composite to accelerate the electrical actuation. Furthermore, they have little negative effect on recovery behavior, resulting in the nanocomposite having an approximately 100% recovery ratio undergoing cyclic deformation.

The use of carbon nanotubes in composite hard armor is discussed in this study. The processing techniques to make various armor composite panels consisting of Kevlar^®29 woven fabric in an epoxy matrix and the subsequent V50 test results for both 44 caliber soft-point rounds and 30 caliber FSP (fragment simulated projectile) threats are presented. A 6.5% improvement in the V50 test results was found for a combination of 1.65 wt% loading of carbon nanotubes and 1.65 wt% loading of milled fibers. The failure mechanism of carbon nanotubes during the ballistic event is discussed through scanning electron microscope images of the panels after the failure. Raman Spectroscopy was also utilized to evaluate the residual strain in the Kevlar^®29 fibers post shoot. The Raman Spectroscopy shows a Raman shift of 25 cm⁻¹ for the Kevlar^®29 fiber utilized in the composite panel that had an enhancement in the V50 performance by using milled fiber and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Evaluating both scenarios where an improvement was made and other panels without any improvement allows for understanding of how loading levels and synergistic effects between carbon nanotubes and milled fibers can further enhance ballistic performance.