CONTINUUM MODELING OF INTERFACES IN POLYMER MATRIX COMPOSITES REINFORCED BY CARBON NANOTUBES

L. Y. JIANG, H. TAN, J. WU, Y. HUANG, K. -C. HWANG
Review Article, 2007, accepted by NANO

The interface behavior may significantly influence the mechanical properties of carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced composites due to the large interface area per unit volume at the composite. The modeling of CNT/polymer interfaces has been a challenge in the continuum modeling of CNT reinforced composites.

This paper presents a review of recent progress to model the CNT/matrix interfaces via a cohesive law established from the van der Waals force. A simple, analytical cohesivelaw is obtained from the interatomic potential, and is used to study the effect of CNT/matrix interfaces on the macroscopic properties of CNT-reinforced composites.