Development of Chow Model for Tensile Modulus of Polymer Nanocomposites Assuming the Interphase Region and Particle Arrangement

摘要

In this study, the conventional Chow model for the tensile modulus of polymer composites containing fully aligned particles is simplified and developed for polymer nanocomposites, taking into account the effects of interphase and particle arrangement. The results obtained from the developed model are compared to the experimental results of several samples containing spherical, layered, and cylindrical nanoparticles. The predictions of the developed model are in good agreement with the experimental data, whereas the calculations of the original model deviate. The moduli of nanocomposites reinforced with spherical nanoparticles depend on the properties of the interphase alone. Additionally, a low volume fraction of the interphase eliminates the effect of matrix Poisson's ratio on the moduli of nanocomposites containing layered and cylindrical nanofillers. These results demonstrate the important role of the interphase in the mechanical behavior of polymer nanocomposites.