Affiliation:
1. CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur-713209, India
Abstract
CNT-reinforced polymer nanocomposites are emerging as a pioneer material
for structural applications because of their enhanced mechanical properties as
compared with neat polymers. The load transfer mechanisms and effective mechanical
properties of these nanocomposites are strongly influenced by CNT parameters
(volume fraction, length, aspect ratio, etc.), and thickness and mechanical properties of
the interfacial region between the embedded CNT and the matrix. In this paper,
modelling studies have been carried out to analyze the effects of these parameters on
the effective elastic properties of a polymethyl methacrylate matrix embedded with
single-walled CNTs. A three-phase continuum mechanics-based 3-D model of the
nanocomposite is analyzed using the finite element method to predict the effect of an
interphase on the elastic properties (elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio) of the
nanocomposite in longitudinal and transverse directions. The effect of the interphase
having a varied modulus (ranging from that of CNT to that of matrix) through its
thickness is also investigated. The Mori-Tanaka homogenization method is also applied
to the three-phase and multi-phase micromechanical models to determine its feasibility
in estimating the influence of the interphase on the elastic properties of the
nanocomposite
Publisher
BENTHAM SCIENCE PUBLISHERS