Effects of interface characteristics on mechanical properties of carbon nanotube reinforced polymer composites

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess exceptional mechanical properties and are therefore suitable candidates for use as reinforcements in composite materials. To take full advantage of their exceptional properties, load sharing mechanisms needs to be understood in the composite materials. Load transfer in composites is achieved through the fibre/matrix interface. In the present paper, finite element method is used to investigate the effects of interface behaviour on carbon nanotube based composite mechanical properties. The effective nanocomposite mechanical properties are evaluated using a three-dimensional nanoscale representative volume element (RVE). In this RVE approach, a single nanotube and the surrounding polymer matrix are modelled. Two cases of perfect bonding and an elastic interface are considered. In addition, the rule of mixtures relations is used to validate the results of numerical models. The results indicate that mechanical properties of nanocomposite materials are significantly influenced by the interface strength.     

Numerical characterisation of fullerene based polymer nanocomposites considering interface effects

In this investigation, the effective mechanical properties of fullerene nanocomposites considering interface effects were characterised. Load transfer in nanocomposite materials is achieved through the fullerene/matrix interface. Thus, to determine nanocomposite mechanical properties, the interface behaviour must be determined. A single fullerene and the surrounding polymer matrix are modelled. Two cases of perfect bonding and an elastic interface are considered. Two models are suggested for elastic interface. The first elastic interface model consists of a thin layer of an elastic material surrounding the fullerene. In the second elastic interface model, a series of spring elements are used as the fullerene/matrix interface. The results of numerical models indicate the importance of adequate interface bonding for a more effective strengthening of polymer matrix by fullerene. Also, Young’s modulus prediction for fullerene in epoxy matrix is compared to experimental data investigated by Rafiee et al. (2011), and good agreement is observed.     

Effects of nanotube helical angle on mechanical properties of carbon nanotube reinforced polymer composites

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess exceptional mechanical properties and are therefore suitable candidates for use as reinforcements in composite materials. The CNTs, however, form complicated shapes and do not usually appear as straight reinforcements when introduced in polymer matrices. This results in a decrease in nanotube effectiveness in enhancing the matrix mechanical properties. In this paper, theory of elasticity of anisotropic materials and finite element method (FEM) are used to investigate the effects of CNT helical angle on effective mechanical properties of nanocomposites. Helical nanotubes with different helical angles are modeled to investigate the effects of nanotube helical angle on nanocomposite effective mechanical properties. In addition, the results of models consisting of helical nanotubes are compared with the effective mechanical properties of nanocomposites reinforced with straight nanotubes. Ultimately, the effects of helical CNT volume fraction on nanocomposite longitudinal modulus are investigated.     

Post-buckling behaviour of carbon-nanotube-reinforced nanocomposite plate

The aim of the present paper is to investigate the buckling and post-buckling behaviour of nanocomposite plate having randomly oriented carbon nanotubes (CNTs) reinforced in magnesium (Mg) under uni-axial compression. The effect of non-bonded interaction at the interface between CNT and matrix is considered through a cohesive zone model, used to predict the elastic property of the interphase, while evaluating the elastic properties of the nanocomposite using a representative volume element. A special purpose program based on finite-element formulation is developed to study the buckling and post-buckling behaviour of nanocomposite plate. The formulation is based on first-order shear deformation theory in conjunction with geometrical non-linearity as per von Karman’s assumptions. A parametric study is conducted to investigate the effects of interphase between CNT and matrix, short-CNT and long-CNT reinforcements and boundary conditions on buckling and post-buckling response of nanocomposite plate. It is found that imperfect bonding between CNT and Mg results in the loss of buckling and post-buckling strength, as compared with perfect bonding, of CNT–Mg nanocomposite plate. It is also concluded that buckling and post-buckling strength is higher for long-CNT-reinforced nanocomposite plate than that of short-CNT reinforcement, irrespective of bonding between CNT and matrix material.     

Modeling the tensile stress–strain response of carbon nanotube/polypropylene nanocomposites using nonlinear representative volume element

This paper presents a finite element model for predicting the mechanical behavior of polypropylene (PP) composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) at large deformation scale. Existing numerical models cannot predict composite behavior at large strains due to using simplified material properties and inefficient interfaces between CNT and polymer. In this work, nonlinear representative volume elements (RVE) of composite are prepared. These RVEs consist of CNT, PP matrix and non-bonded interface. The nonlinear material properties for CNT and polymer are adopted to solid elements. For the first time, the interface between CNT and matrix is simulated using contact elements. This interfacial model is capable enough to simulate wide range of interactions between CNT and polymer in large strains. The influence of adding CNT with different aspect ratio into PP is studied. The mechanical behavior of composites with different interfacial shear strength (ISS) is discussed. The success of this new model was verified by comparing the simulation results for RVEs with conducted experimental results. The results shows that the length of CNT and ISS values significantly affect the reinforcement phenomenon.     

An improved shear-lag model for carbon nanotube reinforced polymer composites

An improved shear-lag model has been proposed for assessing the interface characteristics of carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced polymer–matrix composites (PMCs). Instead of considering any possible chemical bonding at the CNT/matrix interface, this study focuses on stress transferring mechanism of nanotube arising from the combined effects of mechanical interlocking, Poisson’s contraction, thermal mismatch and van der Waals interactions. Analytical solutions are derived for axial and interfacial shear stresses and parametric study has also been conducted to obtain the effect of key composite parameters. This enhanced model is then used to understand true stress transferring mechanism of CNT reinforced polymer composites.     

Three Phase Composite Cylinder Assemblage Model for Analyzing the Elastic Behavior of MWCNT-Reinforced Polymers

Evolution of computational modeling and simulation has given more emphasis on the research activities related to carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced polymer composites recently. This paper presents the composite cylinder assemblage (CCA) approach based on continuum mechanics for investigating the elastic properties of a polymer resin reinforced by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). A three-phase cylindrical representative volume element (RVE) model is employed based on CCA technique to elucidate the effects of inter layers, chirality, interspacing, volume fraction of MWCNT, interphase properties and temperature conditions on the elastic modulus of the composite. The interface region between CNT and polymer matrix is modeled as the third phase with varying material properties. The constitutive relations for each material system have been derived based on solid mechanics and proper interfacial traction continuity conditions are imposed. The predicted results from the CCA approach are in well agreement with RVE-based finite element model. The outcomes reveal that temperature softening effect becomes more pronounced at higher volume fractions of CNTs.     

Mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes and their polymer nanocomposites

More than 10 years have passed since carbon nanotubes (CNT) have been found during observations by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Since then, one of the major applications of the CNT is the reinforcements of plastics in processing composite materials, because it was found by experiments that CNT possessed splendid mechanical properties. Various experimental methods are conducted in order to understand the mechanical properties of varieties of CNT and CNT-based composite materials. The systematized data of the past research results of CNT and their nanocomposites are extremely useful to improve processing and design criteria for new nanocomposites in further studies. Before the CNT observations, vapor grown carbon fibers (VGCF) were already utilized for composite applications, although there have been only few experimental data about the mechanical properties of VGCF. The structure of VGCF is similar to that of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), and the major benefit of VGCF is less commercial price. Therefore, this review article overviews the experimental results regarding the various mechanical properties of CNT, VGCF, and their polymer nanocomposites. The experimental methods and results to measure the elastic modulus and strength of CNT and VGCF are first discussed in this article. Secondly, the different surface chemical modifications for CNT and VGCF are reviewed, because the surface chemical modifications play an important role for polymer nanocomposite processing and properties. Thirdly, fracture and fatigue properties of CNT/polymer nanocomposites are reviewed, since these properties are important, especially when these new nanocomposite materials are applied for structural applications.     

Characterization of carbon nanotube/nanofiber-reinforced polymer composites using an instrumented indentation technique

An instrumented indentation technique was tested on three types of carbon nanotube/nanofiber-reinforced composites to investigate its applicability for measuring mechanical properties (elastic modulus and hardness). There was good agreement in the measured elastic modulus between the instrumented indentation and uniaxial tension tests for the case of a nanocomposite with a harder epoxy matrix material. In contrast, there was a considerable difference in elastic modulus between the two tests for the case of a nanocomposite with a softer polystyrene matrix material. A modified area function was then developed for the nanocomposite with the softer polystyrene matrix material, and this eliminated the difference in elastic modulus between the two test techniques. Thus, the instrumented indentation technique can be used for evaluating the mechanical properties of polymer matrix nanocomposites with an added advantage that a small sample size can be used. The instrumented indentation test was also utilized in the case of a patterned nanotube array-reinforced epoxy matrix composite. This clearly showed the modulus of the array nanocomposite improved considerably compared to that of the neat epoxy resin.     

On the tensile behavior of an embedded carbon nanotube in polymer matrix with non-bonded interphase region

The longitudinal behavior of a carbon nanotube in a polymeric matrix is studied using a non-linear analysis on a full 3D multi-scale finite element model consisting of carbon nanotube, non-bonded interphase region and surrounding polymer. The bonding between carbon nanotube and its surrounding polymer is treated as van der Waals interactions. The results of simulation of carbon nanotube reinforced polymer implies on a non-linear stress–strain behavior. A comparison between finite element analysis results and the rule of mixture for conventional composites shows that the rule of mixture overestimates the result and cannot capture the scale difference between micro- and nano-scale. An equivalent fiber is developed to overcome this difficulty and corresponding longitudinal, transverse and shear moduli are calculated. The results reveal that the length of CNT affects the efficiency of reinforcement phenomenon.     

Effects of the carbon nanotube distribution on the macroscopic stiffness of composite materials

Having extremely high stiffness and low specific weight, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been known recently as perfect reinforcing fibers in nanotechnology. They can improve the stiffness and strength of nanocomposites by being used as reinforcing elements for example in polymer matrices. The corresponding properties of the fibers and matrix, such as volume fraction and aspect ratio are some of the significant factors in the characterization of mechanical properties of CNT reinforced composites. In recent years, the way in which fibers are distributed inside the matrix, in terms of randomness, has introduced another important factor in characterizing the mechanical properties of such composites. Based on this factor, composites can be classified into two types namely, aligned and randomly distributed. This research has studied the effect of random distribution of fibers in the matrix on the elastic modulus and initial yield stress of the nanocomposite. Therefore, several models of composites, with different distribution of fibers, were considered while holding the volume fractions and aspect ratio constant. As a result, the effect of randomness on the effective modulus of CNT reinforced composites was estimated. The finite element method (FEM), using the MSC.Marc software, was employed to predict the effective modulus of CNT reinforced composites and the results were successfully validated by comparison with the analytical Halpin-Tsai method.     

On the contribution of carbon nanotube deformation to piezoresistivity of carbon nanotube/polymer composites

The change in electrical resistance due to mechanical deformation of carbon nanotube (CNT)/polymer composites can be rationalized in terms of two effects: (i) changes in the composite electrical resistivity due to changes in the CNT network configuration and (ii) deformation of the CNTs themselves. The contribution of CNT dimensional changes (ii) to the piezoresistivity of CNT/polymer composites is investigated here. An analytical model based exclusively on dimensional changes which describes the CNT change of electrical resistance in terms of its mechanical deformation is proposed. A micromechanics approach and finite element analysis are performed to correlate the macroscale composite strain to the individual CNT strain. The CNT change of electrical resistance is quantified for different matrix elastic moduli and CNT weight fractions. The CNT/polymer composite is also modeled as an effective continuum material in terms of both its electrical and mechanical responses so that the effect of dimensional changes on the global piezoresistivity can be investigated. Based on the modeling predictions and previous experimental results, it is estimated that the CNT change of resistance due to the macroscale composite strain is marginal (∼5%) compared to the total composite change of resistance commonly measured in the laboratory, suggesting that the dominant effect in the piezoresistivity of CNT/polymer composites is the change in the CNT network configuration.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of SWCNT–polymer nanocomposite and its constituents

Elastic and engineering properties of nanoparticle enhanced composites and their constituents (matrix, reinforcement and interface) are calculated. The nanocomposites considered in this study consist of a single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) embedded in polyethylene matrix. Molecular dynamics simulations are used to estimate the elastic properties of SWCNT, interfacial bonding, polyethylene matrix and composites with aligned and randomly distributed SWCNTs. The elastic properties of bundles with 7, 9, and 19 SWCNTs are also compared using a similar approach. In all simulations, the average density of SWCNT–polymer nanocomposite was maintained in the vicinity of CNTs, to match the experimentally observed density of a similar nanocomposite. Results are found to be in good agreement with experimentally obtained values by other researchers. The interface is an important constituent of CNT–polymer composites, which has been modeled in the present research with reasonable success.     

Modeling the effective elastic properties of nanocomposites with circular straight CNT fibers reinforced in the epoxy matrix

In the present study, the consistent effective elastic properties of straight, circular carbon nanotube epoxy composites are derived using the micromechanics theory. The CNT composites are known to provide high stiffness and elastic properties when the shape of the fibers is cylindrical and straight. Accordingly, in the present work, the effective elastic moduli of composite are newly obtained for straight, circular CNTs aligned in the specified direction as well as distributed randomly in the matrix. In this direction, novel analytical expressions are proposed for four cases of fiber property. First, aligned, and straight CNTs are considered with transverse isotropy in fiber coordinates, and the composite properties are also transversely isotropic in global coordinates. The short comings in the earlier developments are effectively addressed by deriving the consistent form of the strain tensor and the stiffness tensor of the CNT nanocomposite. Subsequently, effective relations for composites reinforced with aligned, straight CNTs but fibers isotropic in local coordinates are newly developed under hydrostatic loading. The effect of the unsymmetric Eshelby tensor for cylindrical fibers on the overall properties of the nanocomposite is included by deriving the strain concentration tensors. Next, the random distribution of CNT fibers in the matrix is studied with fibers being transversely isotropic as well as isotropic when CNT nanocomposites are subjected to uniform loading. The corresponding relations for the effective elastic properties are newly derived. The modeling technique is validated with results reported, and the variations in the effective properties for different CNT volume fractions are presented.     

碳纳米管/聚合物复合材料界面结合性能的研究进展

碳纳米管(CNT)优异的力学性能使其成为复合材料优选的增强体。CNT/聚合物复合材料的力学性能主要受其界面结合性能的影响。综述了CNT/聚合物复合材料界面结合性能的研究方法和研究现状。对CNT/聚合物复合材料界面结合性能的研究,实验上采用微观表征技术、拉曼光谱分析技术和纳米力学拔出法,分子模拟方法则是通过对CNT施加位移或外力模拟CNT从聚合物基体中的抽拔过程。概述了聚合物的类型、晶态结构以及CNT的手性、功能化处理等因素对CNT/聚合物复合材料界面结合性能的影响,并展望了CNT/聚合物复合材料界面结合性能未来研究的重点方向。     

Significantly improving infrared light-induced shape recovery behavior of shape memory polymeric nanocomposite via a synergistic effect of carbon nanotube and boron nitride

The present work studies the thermomechanical properties and infrared light-induced shape memory effect (SME) in shape memory polymer (SMP) nanocomposite incorporated with carbon nanotube (CNT) and boron nitride. The combination of CNT and boron nitride results in higher glass transition temperature, mechanical strength and thermomechanical strength. While CNTs are employed to improve the absorption of infrared light and thermally conductive property of SMP, boron nitrides facilitate heat transfer from CNTs to the polymer matrix and thus to enable fast response. A unique synergistic effect of CNT and boron nitride was explored to facilitate the heat transfer and accelerate the infrared light-induced shape recovery behavior of the shape memory polymeric nanocomposite.     

Effect of an interphase region on debonding of a CNT reinforced polymer composite

The effect on stiffness and debonding of an interphase zone of altered polymer properties surrounding each carbon nanotube (CNT) in a CNT reinforced polymer composite is investigated. The interphase zone has position dependent material properties that merge with those of the polymer at a sufficiently large distance from the inclusion. There is evidence that such an interphase zone must be included in models in order to represent the overall composite properties. The analyses are based on an axisymmetric unit cell model of the composite. An elastic–viscoplastic conventional continuum constitutive relation (a size-independent relation between stress, strain and strain rate) is taken to characterize the bulk polymer material and the interphase, with the material properties being position dependent in the interphase. The interface between the polymer and the CNT is modeled by a phenomenological cohesive relation that allows for complete separation and the creation of new free surface. The effect of varying interface strength on the composite stress–strain response and on debonding is analyzed both with and without an interphase. The presence of an interphase increases the composite stiffness but promotes debonding which ultimately reduces composite stress carrying capacity. The compliance of the interface also affects the stress–strain response prior to debonding and leads to stress redistributions within both the fiber and the matrix (and/or interphase) which can affect the fracture mode that occurs.     

Enhanced thermal and mechanical properties of carbon nanotube composites through the use of functionalized CNT-reactive polymer linkages and three-roll milling

We report enhanced thermal and mechanical properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) composites achieved through the use of functionalized CNTs-reactive polymer linkages and three-roll milling. CNTs were functionalized with carboxyl groups and dispersed in a polymer containing an epoxide group resulting in a chemical reaction. To maximize CNT dispersion for practical usage, entangled CNTs are separated and then evenly dispersed within the polymer matrix using three horizontally positioned rotating rolls that apply a strong shear force to the composite. Consequently, accompanying with thermal stability, elastic modulus and storage modulus of such functionalized CNT/polymer composites were increased by 100% and 500% that of the untreated epoxy polymer.     

Modeling carbon nanotube reinforced composite materials with the cylindrical method of cells

Micromechanics modeling, utilizing a cylindrical method of cells (CMOC) model, is employed to obtain the effective mechanical properties of an elastic transversely isotropic, isothermal material system consisting of a hollow carbon nanotube (CNT) embedded in an isotropic polymeric material matrix. It is shown that weak interfacial bonding between the CNT and polymeric matrix, which is characteristic of this type of material system, can be modeled with the CMOC. Numerical solutions of the effective independent material constants are obtained, based upon appropriate values of the properties of the carbon nanotube and epoxy matrix. The numerical results are presented graphically and compared with corresponding classical closed‐form solutions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.