A new micromechanics approach for predicting the elastic response of polymer nanocomposites reinforced with randomly oriented and distributed wavy carbon nanotubes

Abstract

A comprehensive investigation is carried out into the elastic behavior of carbon nanotube-reinforced polymer nanocomposites using two combined analytical micromechanical methods. A unit cell-based micromechanical method is developed to model the random distribution of carbon nanotubes within the polymer matrix. Also, the Eshelby method is used for modeling the random orientation state of carbon nanotubes within the matrix. Two fundamental aspects affecting the mechanical behavior of carbon nanotube/polymer nanocomposites, including the carbon nanotube waviness and the interphase formed due to the non-boned interaction between the carbon nanotube and the surrounding polymer, are considered in the unit cell method. Comparisons between the results of present method and experimental data reveal that for more realistic predictions, five important factors including, random orientation and random distribution of carbon nanotubes, interphase, waviness and transversely isotropic behavior of carbon nanotube should be considered in the modeling of carbon nanotube-reinforced polymer nanocomposites. The effects of volume fraction, number of waves and waviness factor of carbon nanotube as well as the type of random distribution of CNTs within the matrix on the elastic modulus of the polymer nanocomposites are studied.