For the first time the linear coefficient of the radial thermal expansion has been measured on a system of
SWNT bundles at low temperatures (2.2–120 K). The measurements were performed using a dilatometer
with a sensitivity of 2·10⁻⁹ cm. The cylindrical sample 7 mm high and 10 mm in diameter was obtained by
compressing powder. The resulting bundles of the nanotubes were oriented perpendicular to the sample axis.
The starting powder contained over 90% of SWNTs with the outer diameter 1.1 nm, the length varying
within 5–30 μm. The change of sign of the radial thermal expansion coefficient at 5.5 K was observed.