LAUSR

Abstract The orientation factor is significantly important for producing highly strong conductive carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers. Highly oriented CNT fibers can be obtained by the wet-spinning of CNTs in a superacid. We present a theoretical model for obtaining well-aligned CNT fibers, which may have superior properties. Our model predicts the minimum draw ratio ( D R 0 ) at various Deborah numbers ( De ) for CNT fibers with the target orientation. In addition, the stable operation window in the De - D R plane is predicted using linear stability analysis of the draw resonance. Our analysis suggests that a fiber with the target orientation factor can be obtained if and only if the draw ratio, D R , is higher than D R 0 and is within a stable operation window. The model predictions for the stability window and the effect of D R on the properties of the fibers were confirmed by experiment.