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Nanomechanics of single‐walled carbon nanotubes as composite reinforcement *
Author(s) -
Xiao JiaRun,
Gillespie John W.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.20553
Subject(s) - materials science , carbon nanotube , nanomechanics , composite material , volume fraction , composite number , stiffness , nanocomposite , elastic modulus , representative elementary volume , nanotube , nanotechnology , microstructure , atomic force microscopy
An analytical nanomechanics model is developed for predicting the elastic self‐consistent properties of single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) as composite reinforcement. The molecular structural mechanics is employed to determine the in‐plane stiffness and strength of continuous nanotubes in the axial direction of the tube. The effect of tube diameter of the SWCNT on the in‐plane stiffness and strength is presented and discussed. The nonlinear stress–strain relationships for defect‐free nanotubes have been predicted, which gives an engineering approximation on the ultimate strength and strain to failure of nanotubes. Elastic properties of nanotube composites are further predicted based on a composite micro‐mechanics model, using the obtained mechanical properties of nanotubes, volume fraction, and typical polymer matrix properties. Results on the mechanical properties of nanocomposites show that the Young's moduli and strengths of carbon nanotube composites are sensitive to both fiber volume fraction and the tube diameter. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 46:1051–1059, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers