Agglomeration Of Carbon Nanotubes Research Articles

Research Progress on Microstructure Design of CNTs Reinforced Al Matrix Composites

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have unique characteristics which make them a suitable reinforcing agent in Aluminum Metal Matrix composites. This review summarizes the work carried out in the field of the microstructure design of CNTs/Al composites. By designing the microstructure of CNTs, Al matrix and their composite interface, the problems of agglomeration, entanglement and dispersion of CNTs, wetting and bonding with Al matrix can be effectively solved, and mechanical properties such as Young’s modulus and yield strength can be improved. Such microstructural design includes metal plating on the surface of CNTs, deposition of nano-ceramic particles, Al matrix ball milling and flakes, grain refinement combined with bimodal-grain strengthening of coarse grains.

Porosity-dependent impact study of a plate with Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundations reinforced with agglomerated CNTs

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to investigate the porosity-dependent impact study of a plate with Winkler–Pasternak elastic foundations reinforced with agglomerated carbon nanotubes (CNTs).Design/methodology/approachBased on the first-order shear deformation plate theory, the strain energy related to elastic foundations is added to system strain energy. Using separation of variables and Lagrangian generalized equations, the nonlinear and time-dependent motion equations are extracted.FindingsVerification examples are fulfilled to prove the precision and effectiveness of the presented model. The impact outputs illustrate the effects of various distribution of CNTs porosity functions along the plate thickness direction, Winkler–Pasternak elastic foundations and different boundary conditions on the Hertz contact law, the plate center displacement, impactor displacement and impactor velocity.Originality/valueThis paper investigates the effect of Winkler–Pasternak elastic foundations on the functionally graded porous plate reinforced with agglomerated CNTs under impact loading.

FEM-ANN approach to predict nonlinear pyro-coupled deflection of sandwich plates with agglomerated porous nanocomposite core and piezo-magneto-elastic facings in thermal environment

The present work deals with evaluating the nonlinear deflections of the smart sandwich plate with agglomerated Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) porous core and piezo-magneto-electric (PME) facings, using a novel finite element method (FEM) – artificial neural network (ANN) approach. For the first time, an ANN-based computational tool that integrates the effects of agglomeration of CNTs, porosity and pyro-coupling of the PME materials is presented. Firstly, an in-house finite element (FE) computational tool is proposed and developed using the principle of virtual work in association with higher-order shear deformation theory (HSDT) and von-Karman’s nonlinearity. The data points owing to the nonlinear deflections are collected using the proposed FE formulation, which trains the ANN model using Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm. The externally applied thermal loads are assumed to vary uniformly and linearly across the thickness of the plate. The primary focus of this work is to assess the variation in the degree of pyro-coupling associated with agglomeration and porosity. Two states of agglomeration, such as partial and complete; three forms of porosity, such as uniformly distributed, and two variants of functionally graded porosity, are considered for investigation. Numerical examples are solved to understand the interrelated effects of these material properties. A significant variation in the deflection of the plate, which refers to its actuation capability, is witnessed when the parameters of agglomeration and porosity change.

Interface and strengthening mechanisms of Al matrix composites reinforced with in-situ CNTs grown on Ti particles

The strengthening effect of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in Al matrix composites (AMCs) is significantly weakened by CNTs agglomeration and unsubstantial interfacial bonding with the Al matrix. In this study, CNTs were grown on the surface of Ti particles by chemical vapor deposition to obtain CNTs@Ti hybrid reinforcement, followed by powder metallurgy to prepare CNTs@Ti/Al composites. Evenly dispersed CNTs with good structural integrity were successfully obtained using the carrying effect of the micron-sized Ti particles. Meanwhile, TiC, Al4C3, and TiAl3 were generated at the CNT/Al interface, which strengthened the bearing capacity of the inner-wall of the CNTs, improved the wettability of the CNT/Al interface, and enhanced the strain-hardening ability of the Al matrix. The deficiencies in the CNTs/Al composites are compensated by this kind of materials design, and the two types of reinforcements have a synergistic strengthening effect, which greatly improves the comprehensive mechanical properties of AMCs. An excellent interface structure is formed by controlling the interface reaction such that the dispersion, grain boundary, dislocation, and load transfer strengthening mechanisms are fully realized.

Artificial neural network (ANN) based investigation on the static behaviour of piezo-magneto-thermo-elastic nanocomposite sandwich plate with CNT agglomeration and porosity

In this article, a novel finite element method (FEM) – artificial neural network (ANN) approach is adopted to investigate the coupled static parameters (stresses and potentials) of a smart sandwich plate with agglomerated Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) porous nanocomposite core and piezo-magneto-thermo-electric (PMTE) facings. The main focus of this work is to study the synergistic effects of agglomeration of CNTs, porosity and pyro-coupling of the PMTE materials. Nearly 5184 data points collected from the in-house developed house finite element (FE) computational tool are used to train the ANN model using Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm. The FE formulation is derived using the principle of virtual work in association with higher-order shear deformation theory (HSDT) and von-Karman’s nonlinearity. The externally applied thermal loads are assumed to vary uniformly and linearly across the thickness of the plate. Two states of agglomeration, such as partial and complete; three forms of porosity, such as uniformly distributed, and two variants of functionally graded porosity, have been considered for investigation. Numerical examples are solved to understand the interrelated effects of these material properties on the direct (potentials) and derived (stresses, electric displacement, and magnetic flux densities) static parameters.

Comparative investigation of carbon nanotubes dispersion using surfactants: A molecular dynamics simulation and experimental study

Poor dispersion is a major obstacle limiting the practical application of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in composites. A comparative analysis of the dispersion ability of six representative surfactants for CNTs was conducted using both molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and experimental investigations. The dispersion stability of the surfactant-assisted CNTs was characterised via ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, surface potential analysis, and transmission electron microscope. The chemical structures of the surfactants and CNTs-surfactant ratios directly affected the adsorption behaviours of surfactants on CNTs surface, thus exerting significant impacts on the final dispersion effect. The interaction energy analysis showed that Triton X-100 and sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS) exhibited the strongest interaction with CNTs with respect to other surfactants, whereas sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) displayed the weakest interaction. The van der Waals forces were the main driving forces of this adsorption process. Several structural factors, such as the presence of benzene rings and long alkyl chains, were important and favourable in enhancing the adsorption efficiency of surfactants on CNTs surface. The MD simulation results also revealed that different concentrations of surfactants in the system led to different adsorption behaviours, as low amounts of surfactants tended to exhibit random adsorption without a particular orientation on CNTs surface. Based on the experimental results, Triton X-100 and SDBS showed the strongest dispersion ability, which was consistent with the MD calculation results. Notably, excess amounts of surfactants above the optimum amount caused the entanglement and agglomeration of CNTs owing to the interaction between unfavourable micelles. This study provides an effective guidance for the selection of optimal surfactants for CNTs dispersion.

An analysis of vibration and buckling behaviors of nano-composite beams reinforced with agglomerated carbon nanotubes via differential quadrature finite element method

This article aims to investigate the buckling and free vibration behaviors of nanocomposite beams reinforced with functionally graded (FG) agglomerated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in polymeric beams matrix. In order to estimate the material properties of the FG CNTs reinforced beam, the Eshelby–Mori–Tanaka rule on the basis of equivalent fiber is employed. Moreover, the Lagrange’s principle is used to achieve the governing equations under supposition of the refined higher order beam theory without need of any shear correction factor. The differential quadrature finite element method (DQFEM) as a robust and precise numerical procedure is utilized to achieve the natural frequencies and buckling loads with various boundary supports. Then, the assessment of the effects of different factors such as of CNTs agglomeration parameters, different patterns of CNTs distribution, length to thickness quotients, and mixed boundary conditions on the vibrational and buckling responses of agglomerated CNTs reinforced beam are explored. It is concluded that the current numerical solution based DQFEM is efficient and accurate for predicting the mechanical behavior of the nanocomposite structures. Moreover, the stability and vibration responses of the NC beams can be significantly affected by tailoring the agglomeration parameters.

A novel Cu-carbon nanotube sheet composite manufactured via the ARB process: A microstructural and mechanical study

A Cu matrix composite was designed and produced successfully by adding carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as reinforcement particles. The accumulative roll bonding (ARB) process was used to introduce the material in the shape of the sheet. The process was repeated up to five ARB cycles to obtain a uniform composite with good mechanical properties. Different amounts of CNTs were added to the matrix of Cu in order to evaluate the behavior of the CNTs in the matrix of the Cu. Microstructural evaluations confirmed that by increasing the ARB cycles, a uniform distribution of the CNTs was achieved. However, for Cu-1%CNT considerable numbers of unbonded areas led to weak bonding. Also, the material responded differently to the applied tensile test during loading. For low amounts of CNT-contained composites, the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) was increased in each ARB pass, but, for Cu-1%CNT composite, the UTS was the lowest. Also, microscopy observations were used to study the distribution/configuration of CNTs. The weak bonding of the Cu layers in some spots was attributed to the agglomeration of CNTs between the layers. Fractography of the samples after the tensile test, also, showed remarkable separation between the unbonded layers.

Piezoelectric performance of lead-free PDMS/CNT/BaTiO3 piezocomposites with imperfect interphases and CNT agglomerations

Three-dimensional (3D) printable lead-free piezocomposites offer scalable and environmentally friendly solutions in many engineering applications. Typically, the composite system consists of polymeric matrices reinforced with active polycrystalline particles, and possibly nanoadditives. The presence of interfacial inclusion/matrix damage could not only compromise the structural integrity of the component but also significantly alter its ability to act as functional smart materials. In addition, both the agglomeration of the nanoadditives, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and the degree of polarization could also affect the electromechanical behavior of the composite. In this paper, we develop a computational micromechanical model for the study of the influence of three types of internal defects on the piezoelectric performance of such composites. We investigate the influence of (a) the texture of the active phase, which is linked to the degree of polarization; (b) the effect of agglomerations of the CNTs; and (c) the presence of damage in the inclusion/matrix interphase region. Performance is assessed through the macroscopic response in various figures of merit. This work provides numerical evidence that the effective piezoelectric constants related to normal strain modes are strongly affected by the presence of damage in the interphase. Instead, the piezoelectric constant related to the shear strain remains unchanged by interfacial damage. Near the percolation threshold of the CNTs, piezocomposites exhibit a notable improvement in the piezoelectric response compared to the composite without nanomodification, as noted in previous works. Interestingly, this trend also applies in the presence of interfacial damage, and it is described in this work. The piezoelectric performance also depends on the texture of the active particles. We find, under some simplifications, the optimal orientation for the crystallites, and we find how the texture changes the performance in the presence of damage. Regarding energy harvesting applications, optimal energy conversion efficiency has been observed for polycrystalline inclusions that resembles a highly oriented single crystal and CNT volume fraction of 60 of percolation threshold. This is a quite surprising result since the optimal is usually expected for volume fractions very close to percolation and active inclusions with some orientational dispersion. The optimal CNT volume fraction depends on the presence of interfacial damage. Under perfect interface conditions, the energy conversion efficiency is improved with the presence of CNT agglomerations. Under imperfect interface conditions, there is no enhancement due to the addition of CNT.

Fabrication and finite element simulation of aluminum/carbon nanotubes sheet reinforced with Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition (TCVD)

This study aims to grow the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the aluminum substrate (sheet) using Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition (TCVD) so that the aluminum sheets can be clad together. Besides, finite element simulation (FEM) was used to evaluate the damage progression, and fracture initiation in AL-CNT composites. AL-CNT Representative Volume Element (RVE) was studied to numerically get an appropriate micro-scale Al-CNT composite simulation. To forecast the statistical connection between material microstructure and effective constitutive properties, the RVE approach was developed. AL/CNT RVE models were studied to determine the most effective carbon nanotube weight percentage as a contender to reinforce the aluminum matrix. The experimental technique was then used to investigate the results found in the RVE models. According to the experimental procedure, AL/CNT shows the maximum mechanical strength and material behavior in the CNT weight percentage reported by the RVE model analysis. Furthermore, regarding the importance of continuum mechanical simulation of microstructural damage processes in the ductile fracture mechanics research, the effect of stress triaxiality ratios, such as the ratio of mean stress to equivalent stress, on the damage growth rate was studied. The experimental results show that the composite mechanical behavior is appropriate at each CNT weight percentage simulations were conducted, and the results were compared to the numerical and experimental approaches in the literature, yielding satisfactory agreements. Based on the experimental findings, ultimate strength and young modulus of AL-5 wt.% CNT are 239 MPa and 73 GPa respectively. By adding more CNT concentration, CNT agglomerations are appeared inside the samples based on SEM. Therefore AL-5 wt.% CNT is the final candidate with the best physical properties.

Application of DQHFEM for free and forced vibration, energy absorption, and post-buckling analysis of a hybrid nanocomposite viscoelastic rhombic plate assuming CNTs’ waviness and agglomeration

Vibrations and stability responses are two mechanical characteristics of engineering materials that are highly important for designing new engineering structures. This numerical research deals with investigating the effects of reinforcing a hybrid nanocomposite viscoelastic rhombic plate with Carbon Nano-Tubes (CNTs) and Carbon Fibers (CFs) on the post-buckling behavior, free and forced vibration as well as energy absorption characteristics. The structure is located on a viscoelastic torsional fractional substrate. In addition, the influence of random distribution, waviness, and agglomeration of CNTs is analyzed using the Halpin-Tsai theory. The structural damping is based on the Kelvin-Voigt method and the structure model is created according to the first-order shear deformation theory. Four types of boundary conditions such as fixed, simply, and free-supported are considered for the structure model. To solve the governing equations, a novel approach known as the Differential Quadrature Hierarchical Finite Element Method (DQHFEM) is applied. The numerical achievements revealed that by reducing the skewness angle to 30°, decreasing the aspect ratio to 1, and increasing the CNTs weight percentage up to 0.4, dimensionless frequency improved by 101%. Application of FFFF boundary conditions has dramatically effect since the amplitudes of the dynamic deflection sharply raised (about 91.78% higher than CCCC rhombic plate) and led to deteriorated energy absorption. The dynamic deflection of the structure is increased by nearly 29.36% when both waviness and random distribution (agglomeration) parameters are considered for CNTs. Besides, the random distribution factor is more effective than waviness on post-buckling behavior, energy absorption, and stability of the rhombic plate. It is also worth mentioning that the weight percent of the CNTs affects the number of oscillations and changes the vibration pattern so that with increasing the CNTs content, the number of oscillations is enhanced.

Engineering of the surface of the dispersed phase and bulk metal composite to create promising materials

The main technological problems in the synthesis of metallic composites containing carbon nanotubes or carbide particles are the distribution of the hardening phase in the bulk composite, the strength of its adhesion to the matrix, as well as the chemical and structural stability of the dispersed phase within the composite. These tasks are solved in various ways, primarily at the stage of preparation of the dispersed phase and the monolithic composite matrix. In our work, to ensure good wettability of the dispersed phase and uniformity of its distribution in the bulk aluminum, carbon nanotubes and carbide were metallized with a thin layer of metallic nickel. In the course of work on the creation of aluminum matrix materials reinforced with carbon nanotubes, the necessary conditions were selected for the formation of a metal matrix composite material with improved mechanical properties.As a result, a technique for obtaining an aluminum matrix composite was developed, which makes it possible to prevent the carbon nanotubes agglomeration and suppress the chemical reactions between the dispersed reinforcing phase and the matrix. The method of obtaining composite aluminum matrix material includes multiple cold pressing, as well as alternating pressing and temperature treatment.As it has been shown, the reinforcing phases of different structures have different effects on the mechanical properties of the aluminum matrix composite.

Geometrically nonlinear analysis of sandwich composite beams reinforced by agglomeration carbon nanotubes

In this work, geometrically nonlinear behavior of sandwich composite beams reinforced by carbon nanotubes is studied, taking into account the influence of agglomeration of the carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The core of the sandwich beams is homogeneous while the two face sheets are made of CNT reinforced composite with the effective material properties being estimated by the Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka approach. A first-order shear deformable nonlinear beam element is formulated in the context of the total Lagrange formulation and used to construct the discretized nonlinear equilibrium equation. The Newton-Raphson based iterative procedure is used in conjunction with the arc-length method to trace the equilibrium paths of the beams. Detail parametric studies are carried out to illustrate the influence of the CNTs agglomeration, the amount of CNT volume fraction as well as the thicknesses of face sheets on the nonlinear behavior of the structure.

Vibration and buckling analysis of agglomerated CNT composite plates via isogeometric analysis using non-polynomial shear deformation theory

The present study employs the non-polynomial shear deformation theory within the framework of isogeometric analysis to study the vibration and buckling behavior of carbon nanotubes reinforced composite plates. Owing to the higher aspect ratio of carbon nanotubes, they are prone to agglomeration in matrix. Therefore, to analyze the effect of carbon nanotubes agglomeration in composite plates, a two-parameter micromechanics model is used to determine the effective mechanical properties of the composite plate. Current study opts isogeometric analysis as numerical method, as it can represents the complex shape geometries, and provides higher-order element continuity. Higher-order element continuity is desirable for implementation of non-polynomial shear deformation theory. By the virtue of non-uniform rational B-splines, isogeometric analysis turns out to be better analysis numerical method for complex and shell structures. Governing isogeometric element equations are derived using Hamilton's principle. A detailed parametric study is also performed to investigate the effect of degree of agglomeration, thickness to length/radius ratio, different boundary conditions, and complex shape cutouts in a composite plate. The presented formulation is validated across analytical and finite element method solutions with available literature.

Feasibility of Carbon Nanoparticle Coatings as Protective Barriers for Copper─Wetting Assessment.

Copper is extensively used in a wide range of industrial and daily-life applications, varying from heat exchangers to electrical wiring. Although it is protected from oxidation by its native oxide layer, when subjected to harsh environmental conditions─such as in coastal regions─this metal can rapidly degrade. Therefore, in this study, we analyze the potential use of carbon nanoparticle coatings as protective barriers due to their intrinsic hydrophobic wetting behavior. The nanocarbon coatings were produced via electrophoretic deposition on Cu platelets and characterized via scanning electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and sessile drop test; the latter being the primary focus since it provides insights into the wetting behavior of the produced coatings. Among the measured coatings, graphite flakes, graphene oxide, and carbon nanotube (CNT) coatings showed superhydrophobic behavior. Based on their wetting behavior, and specifically for electrical applications, CNT coatings showed the most promising results since these coatings do not significantly impact the substrate's electrical conductivity. Although CNT agglomerates do not affect the wetting behavior of the attained coatings, the coating's thickness plays an important role. Therefore, to completely coat the substrate, the CNT coating should be sufficiently thick─above approximately 1 μm.

Thermal free vibration examination of sandwich piezoelectric agglomerated randomly oriented CNTRC Timoshenko beams regarding pyroelectricity

For the first time, thermal free vibration examination of sandwich piezoelectric agglomerated Timoshenko beams strengthened by carbon nanotubes is addressed here considering the pyroelectric effect. The top, and the bottom layers are piezoelectric layers serve as a sensor. The host lamina is a polymer matrix strengthened by means of randomly oriented carbon nanotubes. Mori-Tanaka's approach is used to define the thermal and mechanical attributes of the carbon nanotube reinforced nanocomposite. The effect of carbon nanotube agglomeration is incorporated to the constitutive relations. The behavior of the materials is considered to be linearly elastic. The Chebyshev-Ritz method is used to derive the correlated natural frequencies. The influences of the pyroelectricity and the carbon nanotube agglomeration on the first natural frequency are investigated for three different boundary conditions. The results show that the first natural frequency decreases by neglecting the effect of the pyroelectricity. In addition, the agglomeration eliminates the possibility of static instability predicted for the nanocomposite beam exposed to a thermal ambient.

Agglomeration effects of CNTs on the energy harvesting performance of multifield interactive magneto-electro-elastic/nanocomposite unimorph smart beam

In this article, the effect of agglomeration of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the energy harvesting behavior of a unimorph multifunctional cantilever beam (UMCB) subjected to transverse and rotational vibrations is investigated analytically using a distributed parameter model. The top layer of the UMCB consists of the magneto-electro-elastic (MEE) material, formed by reinforcing a piezoelectric matrix with CNTs, acting as a piezomagnetic phase. The substructure of the UMCB is composed of a nanocomposite CNTs material. To address the issue of dispersion of the material, agglomeration or cluster formation of the CNTs in the substrate layer is considered. The agglomeration is modeled using the modified Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka (EMT) method. The ideal case of no agglomeration, partial and complete agglomeration, is considered for evaluation. The various distributions of the CNTs in the substrate and its volume fractions are also considered in the analysis. The coupled governing equations of motion and the subsequent frequency-response functions (FRFs) for the output parameters are derived based on the distributed parameter approach, in conjunction with the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, Gauss and Faraday’s laws. Various material and geometrical parametric studies are discussed in detail to understand the output response of the UMCB. Special focus is placed on the effect of the agglomerated CNTs substrate and the influence of various agglomeration parameters on the overall output response. The article is a stepping stone to developing and utilizing advanced composite structure-based energy harvesting devices and paves the way for further research into utilizing CNTs-based composite structures for various engineering applications.

Novel hybrid natural rubber nanocomposites with carbon nanotube and cellulose nanofiber for strain-sensitive sensor

A natural rubber (NR) filled with hybrid filler of carbon nanotube (CNT) and cellulose nanofiller (CNF) was prepared by masterbatch latex mixing method. The proportion of CNT:CNF was varied at 1:0.05, 1:0.5, and 1:1. The properties, including mechanical, electrical, and strain sensitivity, of the hybrid NR nanocomposites for use as a sensor were investigated. Raman spectrum confirmed the interaction between CNT and CNF, as indicated by the upshift in the D and G bands and the decrease in I D /I G ratio with the increased proportion of CNF. In addition, the particle analyzer presented the finest dispersion of CNT in the CNT–CNF 1:0.05 hybrid, whereas the agglomeration of CNT and CNF particles occurred with the high proportion of CNF owing to the interaction between CNT and CNF particles. Moreover, the good dispersion of CNT in the NR/CNT–CNF 1:0.05 resulted in an improved electrical conductivity. Although the high CNF proportion caused the increased interaction between the functional groups of CNT and CNF, it induced a stable and flexible conducting network in the hybrid NR nanocomposites, which promoted the strain-sensitive property for the application of NR nanocomposites as sensors. • Masterbatch latex mixing was used to prepared NR hybrid nanocomposites. • Proper CNF proportion hindered the agglomeration of CNT. • CNT-CNF hybrid at ratio 1:0.05 increased mechanical and electrical properties. • CNT-CNF interaction induced a stable and flexible conducting network.

Plasticity improvement coupled by carbon nanotubes and beam oscillation in laser-arc hybrid welding of magnesium alloy

Laser-arc hybrid welding of AZ31B magnesium alloy was carried out employing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and beam oscillation. The beam oscillation was beneficial to inhibit the easily occurred agglomeration of CNTs by stirring the molten pool, and thus improve the weld plasticity due to grain refinement effect of the dispersed CNTs.

Multiscale modeling of thermal conductivity of hierarchical CNT-polymer nanocomposite system with progressive agglomeration

Agglomeration of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is a key phenomenon that affects the effective thermal conductivity of CNT-polymer nanocomposites. This issue needs to be adequately studied especially in the practice of prediction of the effective thermal properties of CNT nanocomposites. In this study, we developed a multiscale model within the framework of effective medium theory to predict the effect of CNT agglomeration on the overall thermal conductivity of the hierarchical CNT-polymer nanocomposite system over a wide range of CNT loading. With an introduced Cauchy cumulative probability function, we developed a new model of CNT agglomeration wherein the CNT volume fraction progressively evolves with the total loading of the CNT fillers in the composite. This model is self-consistent and it leads to a very good agreement with experimental observations. The entire multiscale approach consists of the newly developed model of the progressive agglomeration as well as models that altogether take into account the effect of two types of CNT interfacial thermal resistance and the unique feature of the CNT nanostructure. We highlighted this multiscale approach with its implementation in the prediction of the overall thermal conductivity. Good agreement was confirmed between the prediction and the experimental data. The study shows that the existence of CNT agglomerates downgrades the thermal percolation networks and it can cause a decrease up to 50% in the overall thermal conductivity of the nanocomposite. Two important parameters for the progressive agglomeration model were identified and their influences to the predicted results were examined.