Analysis of the elastic properties of CNTs and their effect in polymer nanocomposites

Abstract

A study about of the influence of CNTs elastic properties in polymer nanocomposites is presented. These properties are assumed to be dependent on the CNTs diameter and number of walls, identified as key characteristics of these reinforcements. The analysis is carried out using a micromechanical model based on the mean field homogenization theory for the prediction of the composite elastic properties of a MWCNT – epoxy resin system. A transversally isotropic elastic behavior has been considered for the CNTs based on values/dependencies reported in the literature. Interphase properties between the CNT and epoxy resin has been investigated by means of molecular dynamics simulations.