A continuum model to study interphase effects on elastic properties of CNT/GS-nanocomposite

Abstract

In the present study, initially a continuum level model of interphase region in a carbon nanotube (CNT)/graphene sheet (GS) based nanocomposite is established. Cohesive zone model through Lennard Jones (i.e. LJ) potential is utilized to model the interphase zone in terms of its thickness and elastic modulus, for different matrix materials containing CNTs of various radii (including graphene—a CNT of infinite radius). Thereafter, a finite element based study is conducted to characterize and compare the CNT- and GS-reinforced nanocomposites with and without interphase, using the method of representative volume element (RVE). Based on the study, it is concluded that the thickness as well as elastic modulus of the interphase zone is significantly affected by the matrix material of nanocomposite which is in contrast to the general assumption, made in the literature, of constant thickness of interphase zone for different matrix materials. In the case of nanocomposite with small radius CNTs, slightly higher, noticeable only at narrow scale, elastic modulus of interphase zone is obtained than the nanocomposite with large radius CNTs, irrespective of matrix materials. For metal nanocomposites, interphase zone results in loss of all stiffness properties of the resulting CNT/GS nanocomposite, and this loss is more prevalent in GS nanocomposite for its out-of-plane stiffness properties. But, on the contrary, in the case of polyethylene (i.e. PE) nanocomposite, the elastic modulus of interphase causes enhanced stiffness properties of the resulting nanocomposite, as compared to the perfectly bonded nanocomposite, for CNT and GS reinforcements.