MODELING THE EFFECT OF FILLER-MATRIX CONTACT AND FILLERS' AGGLOMERATION ON EFFECTIVE MODULUS OF POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES

摘要

This study focuses on understanding the deviation between experimentally obtained and numerically predicted tensile modulus of carbon nanotube /polypropylene (CNT/PP) composites. The tensile modulus is measured according to ASTM D638 testing method. Characteristics such as presence and size of CNT agglomerates, voids at the CNT-PP interface and width and modulus of the CNT-PP contact area are studied using atomic force microscope (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Finite element analysis is performed to determine the effective Young's modulus considering i) ideal case (no CNT agglomeration, perfect CNT-PP contact) and ii) non-ideal case where the experimentally observed characteristics are accounted for.