Experimental and modelling of temperature-dependent mechanical properties of CNT/polymer nanocomposites

S. Tamayo-Vegas*, Khalid Lafdi

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)
32 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Polymer-matrix composites (PMC) reinforced with nanofillers are in constant demand in various industrial applications. Among nano reinforcements, carbon nanotubes (CNT), show a unique combination of physical properties. Often, PMC/CNT composites perform under harsh operating and environmental conditions ranging from aggressive chemical attacks to high temperatures. Material characterization is critical for correct implementation in multifunctional systems. In this study, we have developed two Representative Volume Elements based on the formation of agglomeration above 2 wt% percentage of CNTs. Using finite element analysis (FEA) we studied the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites as a function of temperature. The viscoelastic properties of different percentages of nanofillers (i.e., 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 5 wt%) were derived. Experimental validation was performed with the samples containing the percentages of nanofillers. The samples were tested using Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) equipment employing the three-point bending method at a fixed frequency. The data shows that the nanofillers drastically influenced the storage, loss modulus and loss factor with a small addition of carbon nanotubes. The viscoelastic properties are presented from temperatures ranging from 40 ℃ to 120 ℃. Finally, a good agreement between the numerical and experimental approaches was found.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)607-614
Number of pages8
JournalMaterials Today: Proceedings
Volume57
Issue number2
Early online date11 Feb 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Apr 2022
Event3rd International Conference on Aspects of Materials Science and Engineering - Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
Duration: 5 Mar 20226 Mar 2022
https://icamse2022.weebly.com/

Keywords

  • Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs)
  • Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis
  • Micromechanics
  • Finite element analysis
  • Thermomechanical modelling
  • Carbon nanotubes

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