Temperature-dependent tensile strength of CNT/polymer nanocomposites considering the effects of CNT networks and waviness: Characterization and modeling

Abstract

Theoretically determining the tensile strength of CNT/polymer nanocomposites (CPNCs) has long been a huge challenge because it is significantly affected by several influence factors such as CNT networks, waviness, and temperature. In this paper, based on the microscopic characteristics of CNT distributed in the polymer matrix, geometric models of CNT network structures and waviness were presented. Then an analytical model was proposed to forecast the temperature-dependent tensile strength (TDTS) of CPNCs, in which the effects of CNT networks and waviness were considered. The model predicted results agree well with the existing experimental data, and compared with the Kelly-Tyson model and Zare's model, our model has obvious advantages from the aspect of prediction accuracy. Moreover, the quantitative influences of the CNT networks, waviness and temperature on the contributions of CNTs to the tensile strength of CPNCs were systematically carried out. Analytical results can provide some useful guidance on how to select material parameters to obtain CPNCs with a desired tensile strength at different temperatures.