• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.478-482
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• 2010

A series of molecular dynamic (MD), finite element (FE) and ab initio simulations are carried out to establish suitable modeling schemes for the continuum-based analysis of aluminum matrix nanocomposites reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). From a comparison of the MD with FE models and inferences based on bond structures and electron distributions, we propose that the effective thickness of a CNT wall for its continuum representation should be related to the graphitic inter-planar spacing of 3.4${\AA}$. We also show that shell element representation of a CNT structure in the FE models properly simulated the carbon-carbon covalent bonding and long-range interactions in terms of the load-displacement behaviors. Estimation of the effective interfacial elastic properties by ab initio simulations showed that the in-plane interfacial bond strength is negligibly weaker than the normal counterpart due to the nature of the weak secondary bonding at the CNT-Al interface. Therefore, we suggest that a third-phase solid element representation of the CNT-Al interface in nanocomposites is not physically meaningful and that spring or bar element representation of the weak interfacial bonding would be more appropriate as in the cases of polymer matrix counterparts. The possibility of treating the interface as a simply contacted phase boundary is also discussed.

• Composites Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.155-161
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• 2024

Boron nitride nanotubes and carbon nanotubes are the most representative one-dimensional nanostructures, and have received great attention as reinforcement for multifunctional composites for their excellent physical properties. The two nanotubes have similar excellent mechanical stiffness, strength, and heat conduction properties. Therefore, the reinforcing effect of these two nanotubes is greatly influenced by the properties of their interface with the polymer matrix. In this paper, recent comparative studies on the reinforcing effect of boron nitride nanotubes and carbon nanotubes through experimental pull-out test and in-silico simulation are summarized. In addition, the conflicting aspect of the two different nanotubes with structural defects in their side wall is discussed on the viscoelastic damping performance of nanocomposites.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.136-143
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• 2021

Polyurea has been investigated as a polymer matrix for composite materials because of its high mechanical strength. Although polyurea has a similar chemical structure to polyurethane, it has much higher strength and durability. In this study, the fabrication of polyurea composites reinforced with carbon nanotube (CNT) and graphene oxide (GO) is demonstrated to enhance the tensile strength of the glass fibers composite. Using FTIR and Raman spectroscopies, the chemical structures of polyurea, CNT, and GO are investigated. As a result, spectroscopy analysis reveals that the chemical structure of CNT, GO, and polyurea is maintained during the fabrication of the composite structure. Scanning electron microscopy reveals the uniform distribution of CNT and GO across the polyurea matrix. The reinforcement of 1 wt% CNT in polyurea enhances the tensile strength of CNT/polyurea composites. In contrast, the reinforcement of GO in polyurea induces the degradation of the tensile strength of GO/polyurea composites.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.240-249
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• 2014

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) reinforced poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) composites are studied. To increase the interfacial interactions between PET and MWNTs, the MWNTs are functionalized with bishydroxy-ethylene-terephthalate (BHET). The functionalized MWNTs are melt blended into PET matrix using a twin screw extruder. The amount of MWNTs loaded in PET matrix ranges from 0.5 to 2.0 wt%. After compounding and spinning, the filaments are post-drawn and annealed. To verify the chemical modifications of carbon nanotubes, Raman, $^1H$ NMR, XPS, TGA and FE-SEM are used. The nanocomposites are also analyzed with DSC, TGA, and UTM. These tests show that crystallization temperature and thermal degradation temperature increase due to the functionalized MWNTs. Also, tensile test shows that yield strength and toughness increase more than 30% with addition of only 1 wt% of MWNTs. These results show that the introduction of BHET onto the MWNTs is a very effective way in manufacturing MWNT/PET composite.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.494-499
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• 2013

Modified polypropylene (m-PP) was fabricated by furfuryl sulphide (FS) as branching agent and m-PP/nano-filler composites were prepared with silicate and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), using a twin screw extruder. The chemical structures and thermal properties of the m-PP were investigated by FTIR and DSC. The chemical structure of the m-PP was confirmed by the existence of =C-H stretching peak of the branching agent at 3100 $cm^{-1}$. There was no district change in melting temperature in case of m-PP, but a certain increase in crystallization temperature was notified and the increase was in the range of $10-20^{\circ}C$. The rheological properties, filler dispersion and foaming behaviors of the m-PP/nano-filler composites were investigated by dynamic rheometer, X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning/transmission electron microscope (SEM/TEM). m-PP/nano-filler composites showed a high complex viscosity at a low frequency, an increase in melt elasticity, and a high shear thinning effect. Compared to pure PP, m-PP and m-PP/nano-filler composites were sufficient to enhance the foaming behavior.

• Composites Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.123-128
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• 2021

This paper dealt with multi-scale natural frequency characteristics of wavy CNT (carbon nanotube) reinforced composites by applying the Mori-Tanaka method, rule of mixture, and Halpin-Tsai equation. By compelling benefit of an ad-hoc Eshelby tensor, the load-transfer characteristics of CNT with a waviness implanted in the polymer matrix was determined. The numerical results obtained are in good agreement with those reported by other investigators. Furthermore, the new results reported in this paper show the interactions between CNT weight, waviness ratios and layup sequences of laminated composites. Key observation points are discussed and significant considerations are given in practical designing of CNT reinforced composites.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.497-517
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• 2015

In this study, nonlocal nonlinear buckling analysis of embedded polymeric temperature-dependent microplates resting on an elastic matrix as orthotropic temperature-dependent elastomeric medium is investigated. The microplate is reinforced by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in which the equivalent material properties nanocomposite are estimated based on the rule of mixture. For the carbon-nanotube reinforced composite (CNTRC) plate, both cases of uniform distribution (UD) and functionally graded (FG) distribution patterns of SWCNT reinforcements are considered. The small size effects of microplate are considered based on Eringen's nonlocal theory. Based on orthotropic Mindlin plate theory along with von K$\acute{a}$rm$\acute{a}$n geometric nonlinearity and Hamilton's principle, the governing equations are derived. Generalized differential quadrature method (GDQM) is applied for obtaining the buckling load of system. The effects of different parameters such as nonlocal parameters, volume fractions of SWCNTs, distribution type of SWCNTs in polymer, elastomeric medium, aspect ratio, boundary condition, orientation of foundation orthtotropy direction and temperature are considered on the nonlinear buckling of the microplate. Results indicate that CNT distribution close to top and bottom are more efficient than those distributed nearby the mid-plane for increasing the buckling load.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.463-474
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• 2020

In this paper, the influence of adding multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) on the pull behavior of steel and GFRP bars in ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) was examined experimentally and numerically. For numerical analysis, 3D nonlinear finite element modeling (FEM) with the help of ABAQUS software was used. Mechanical properties of the specimens, including Young's modulus, tensile strength and compressive strength, were extracted from the experimental results of the tests performed on standard cube specimens and for different values of weight percent of MWCNTs. In order to consider more realistic assumptions, the bond between concrete and bar was simulated using adhesive surfaces and Cohesive Zone Model (CZM), whose parameters were obtained by calibrating the results of the finite element model with the experimental results of pullout tests. The accuracy of the results of the finite element model was proved with conducting the pullout experimental test which showed high accuracy of the proposed model. Then, the effect of different parameters such as the material of bar, the diameter of the bar, as well as the weight percent of MWCNT on the bond behavior of bar and UHPC were studied. The results suggest that modifying UHPC with MWCNT improves bond strength between concrete and bar. In MWCNT per 0.01 and 0.3 wt% of MWCNT, the maximum pullout strength of steel bar with a diameter of 16 mm increased by 52.5% and 58.7% compared to the control specimen (UHPC without nanoparticle). Also, this increase in GFRP bars with a diameter of 16 mm was 34.3% and 45%.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.603-608
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• 2023

Carbon black with high purity and excellent conductivity is used as a conductive filler in the semiconductive compound for EHV (Extra High Voltage) power cables of 345 kV or higher. When carbon black and CNT (carbon nanotube) are applied together as a conductive filler of a semiconductive compound, stable electrical properties of the semiconductive compound can be maintained even though the amount of conductive filler is significantly reduced. In EHV power cables, since the semi-conductive layer is close to the conductor, stable electrical characteristics are required even under high-temperature conditions caused by heat generated from the conductor. In this study, the theoretical principle that a semiconductive compound applied with carbon black and CNT can maintain excellent electrical properties even under high-temperature conditions was studied. Basically, the conductive fillers dispersed in the matrix form an electrical network. The base polymer and the matrix of the composite, expands by heat under high temperature conditions. Because of this, the electrical network connected by the conductive fillers is weakened. In particular, since the conductive filler has high thermal conductivity, the semiconductive compound causes more thermal expansion. Therefore, the effect of CNT as a conductive filler on the thermal conductivity, thermal expansion coefficient, and volume resistivity of the semiconductive compound was studied. From this result, thermal expansion and composition of the electrical network under high temperature conditions are explained.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.275-291
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• 2023

This paper has focused on presenting vibration analysis of trapezoidal sandwich plates with 3D-graphene foam reinforced polymer matrix composites (GrF-PMC) core and FG wavy CNT-reinforced face sheets. The porous graphene foam possessing 3D scaffold structures has been introduced into polymers for enhancing the overall stiffness of the composite structure. Also, 3D graphene foams can distribute uniformly or non-uniformly in the plate thickness direction. The effective Young's modulus, mass density and Poisson's ratio are predicted by the rule of mixture. In this study, the classical theory concerning the mechanical efficiency of a matrix embedding finite length fibers has been modified by introducing the tube-to-tube random contact, which explicitly accounts for the progressive reduction of the tubes' effective aspect ratio as the filler content increases. The First-order shear deformation theory of plate is utilized to establish governing partial differential equations and boundary conditions for trapezoidal plate. The governing equations together with related boundary conditions are discretized using a mapping-generalized differential quadrature (GDQ) method in spatial domain. Then natural frequencies of the trapezoidal sandwich plates are obtained using GDQ method. Validity of the current study is evaluated by comparing its numerical results with those available in the literature. It is explicated that 3D-GrF skeleton type and weight fraction, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) waviness and CNT aspect ratio can significantly affect the vibrational behavior of the sandwich structure. The plate's normalized natural frequency decreased and the straight carbon nanotube (w=0) reached the highest frequency by increasing the values of the waviness index (w).