Micromechanical model to evaluate the effects of dimensions and interphase region on the elastic modulus of CNT/polymer composites

Carbon Nanotube (CNT) dimensions and interphase region are the important parameters that affect on the mechanical behavior of CNT/Polymer composites. In this study, a new analytical model is established to predict the modulus of these structures. Considering the influence of CNT dimensions (diameter and length) an interphase region, the elastic modulus of nanocomposite is determined. In this new model, a nanotube with hollow cylindrical structure is modeled as a transversely isotropic solid nano-fiber. Moreover, interphase region and its van-der Waals interaction is simulated as an isotropic hollow cylindrical solid that its mechanical properties is derived using the continuum mechanics. To predict the modulus of nano-composites, a representative volume element (RVE) containing a transversely isotropic solid nano-fiber, isotropic solid interphase region and the matrix is employed using Halpin-Tsai model. Finally, the results of the proposed analytical model are compared with various available experimental results. The proposed model is simple and the results obtained by the model are in good agreement with available experimental results.