Tensile modulus of polymer/CNT nanocomposites by effective volume fraction of nanoparticles as a function of CNT properties in the network

In this article, the effects of filler network and interphase between polymer matrix and nanoparticles on the tensile modulus of polymer/carbon nanotubes (CNT) nanocomposites are assumed by the effective volume fraction of nanoparticles. By this approach, the Takayanagi model is developed for polymer/CNT nanocomposites above percolation threshold. Also, the effective factors for filler network including the number (N), aspect ratio () and percolation threshold of CNT are correlated to three main parameters. The developed model is evaluated for some reported samples from previous papers, and the influences of main parameters on the modulus are examined. The acceptable predictability of the developed model for modulus of nanocomposites is illustrated by experimental results. The and N parameters play positive roles in the modulus, while an inverse relation is observed between the modulus and the percolation threshold. The reasonable effects of these parameters on the tensile modulus of polymer/CNT nanocomposites are also discussed. Copyright (c) 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.