SIMULATION OF REINFORCEMENT DEGREE OF NANOCOMPOSITES ELASTOMER/2D-NANOFILLER

Abstract

Three schemes of modeling of reinforcement degree of nanocomposites polymer/2D-nanofiller with elastomeric matrix were proposed, differing principally from used ones earlier. These schemes do not used nominal characteristics of nanofiller (its modulus of elasticity, anisotropy degree), yet allow to obtain real (effective) values of these parameters. It has been shown, that modulus of elasticity of 2D-nanofiller aggregates in polymer matrix of nanocomposite is a function of stiffness of the indicated matrix. The other analogous model assumes the dependence of modulus of elasticity of 2D-nanofiller on its aggregation degree in polymer matrix, expressed by number of nanofiller separate platelets per one aggregate (“packet” or tactoid). The combination of these approaches allows to predict the real degree of nanofiller anisotropy and then reinforcement degree of nanocomposite. One more scheme uses the structure of nanofiller aggregates, characterized by its fractal dimension, for modeling of reinforcement degree of nanocomposites. The obtained real modulus of elasticity of 2D-nanofiller is in 5 orders of value smaller relatively to its nominal magnitude. The application of real (effective) characteristics of nanofiller allows to simulate reinforcement degree of nanocomposite within the framework of simple mixtures rule. Nanocomposites elastomer/2D-nanofiller are enough conservative systems, for which real anisotropy degree and structure of nanofiller aggregates do not depend on its content. This circumstance simplifies perceptibly prediction of mechanical properties of these nanocomposites.