Super-compressible carbon nanotube films and micro-bundles

An open-cell carbon nanotube foam comprising a plurality of separated carbon nanotubes, wherein:

• the carbon nanotubes are aligned parallel to a thickness of the open-cell carbon nanotube foam, the thickness of the open-cell carbon nanotube foam being smaller than an average free length of the carbon nanotubes,
• the carbon nanotubes comprise struts of the foam;
• and the space between the nanotube struts comprises an interconnected network of voids of the foam,
• the foam is under compression and the nanotubes collectively buckle to form an aligned zigzag pattern, and
• the foam exhibits at least one of:
• a Poisson's ratio substantially equal to zero;
• a compressibility of at least 85%;
• a recovery rate of at least 120 mm/min;
• a compressive strength of at least 12 MPa;
• a sag factor of at least 4;
• fatigue resistance to no more than 15% permanent deformation when subjected to at least 1,000 compressive cycles at a strain of 85%;
• or
• a resilience of between 25% and 30%.