There are numerous examples in literature which suggest that the mechanical properties of polymer composites containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) show a 'turning point' in the reinforcement efficiency above a critical filler concentration: the properties either drop or the effectiveness decreases considerably. The 'turning point' in the reinforcement efficiency usually takes place at volume fractions coincident with the percolation threshold. On the other hand, for polymer composites containing cellulose nanowhiskers (CWs), the outstanding reinforcement observed above a critical filler concentration is attributed to the formation of a percolated architecture of rigid nanowhisker network in which stress transfer is facilitated by hydrogen-bonding among the nanowhiskers. In this presentation, we derive and compare different micromechanical models which account for the presence of dispersed and agglomerated nanofillers in the polymeric matrix and consider the effect of a percolation threshold on the elastic modulus of the composite.

Micromechanical models for polymer nanocomposites

245th National Meeting (2013)

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