Abstract Submitted to the    NANOTUBE'04 Conference:

The large increase in the mechanical response of nanotube-polymer composites is directly correlated with the formation of a crystalline layer of polymers surrounding the nanotubes. Motivated by this correlation, we present a simple model that describes the ordered assembly of polymer strands on nanotube surfaces. Energetically favourable coiling angles are identified based on geometric constraints that limit the maximum coverage of polymers on the walls of the nanotubes. The coiling angles can be controlled by selecting the appropriate nanotube diameters, opening the possibility of engineering the strength of composite fibers.