Abstract
The main goal of this research is to investigate the influence of structural defects on the mechanical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Two different types of the structural defects called Stone-Wales and vacancy defect are studied. While the former is categorized under the process-induced defect and it appears during the growth process of CNT, the later is caused when chemical functionalization is applied to CNT for fabrication carbon nanotube reinforced nanocomposite providing better bonding between CNT and surrounding resin. The number of broken C-C bonds, distributions and their orientations are all taken into account as random variables accounting for full stochastic analysis. Therefore, a computer code is provided for the stochastic modeling. The finite element (FE) model of the CNT is built using nanoscale continuum mechanics approach and then structural defects are applied randomly to the CNT. The Young's modulus of defected CNTs are obtained and compared with non-defected ones. It is revealed that the importance of vacancy defect is considerably higher than that of Stone-Wales defects implying on the drawback of chemical functionalization process. A detailed study is carried out on the topology of the defect and also continuous probability density functions of defect CNT Young's modulus are characterized.
Highlights
Nowadays, supreme and exceptional properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from different mechanical, thermal and electrical viewpoints have encouraged researchers to incorporate them into polymeric resin generating new category of advanced materials as nanocomposites1,2
The Young’s modulus of defected CNT is obtained and compared with intact CNT to study the influence of defects on the mechanical property of the single walled CNT
The intrinsic defects induced during growth process of CNT called Stone-Wales defects and vacancy defect appeared due to the chemical functionalization of the CNT are simulated and analyzed
Summary
Supreme and exceptional properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from different mechanical, thermal and electrical viewpoints have encouraged researchers to incorporate them into polymeric resin generating new category of advanced materials as nanocomposites. Some researchers tried to improve load transferring mechanism by providing cross covalent links between the carbon atoms of CNT and the polymer chain of the matrix. Some researchers tried to improve load transferring mechanism by providing cross covalent links between the carbon atoms of CNT and the polymer chain of the matrix5-8 In this process, some C-C bonds on CNT nano-structure are broken and associated carbon atoms with broken bonds will be connected to the polymer chains through covalent cross bonding. Some C-C bonds on CNT nano-structure are broken and associated carbon atoms with broken bonds will be connected to the polymer chains through covalent cross bonding This will be led to enhancement in load/stress transfer from the resin to CNT resulting in improved mechanical properties of nanocomposites. Due to conducting stochastic analysis, the results are examined statistically
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