Effects of Carbon Nanotubes Geometrical Distribution on Electrical Percolation of Nanocomposites: A Comprehensive Approach

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to study the effects of length, alignment and diameter distribution of the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the percolation threshold of nanocomposites using computational simulations. Furthermore, the effects of the aforementioned parameters on the efficiency of the produced networks are investigated. The best distribution for optimum connectivity and the lowest CNTs concentration for the onset of percolation is determined via analyzing the geometrical characteristics of carbon nanotubes. The critical volume fraction of CNTs for percolation was found to be 0.1% while the mean number of bonds per object was 1.3 at the best distribution condition. The results from this study are compared to available experimental data and good agreement was found.

Effects of the dispersion state and aspect ratio of carbon nanotubes on their electrical percolation threshold in a polymer

“…The models proposed so far for the electrical percolation of CNTs in a polymer include mainly the analytical models based on excluded volume theory,7–16 numerical simulation,13–22 and the analytical model based on the interparticle distance concept 23. Li et al23 reported the interparticle distance approach, where CNTs were modeled as a mixture of individual CNTs and spherical agglomerates.…”

Effective thermal and mechanical properties of short carbon fiber/natural rubber composites as a function of mechanical loading

“…Due to their superior properties, nanocomposites are popular in many engineering fields such as aerospace and biomechanics [10][11][12]. CNTs have been shown to improve stiffness, Young modulus, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and strength of polymers [13][14][15][16]. CNT-polymers are used in electrical devices and electronic systems that benefit from high conductivity [17,18].…”

Elastic percolation of composite structures with regular tessellations of microstructure

“…The relative influence of the competing and compounding effects of the spatial position/distribution of the particles (microstructure) and of the composite constitution (micromechanics) are examined [12]. Effects of geometrical properties of carbon nanotubes (such as length and diameter) on the percolation limit of nanocomposites were investigated in previous studies [13,14]. In some cases, these effects on percolation threshold can be calculated based on 3D computational simulations [13].…”

“…Effects of geometrical properties of carbon nanotubes (such as length and diameter) on the percolation limit of nanocomposites were investigated in previous studies [13,14]. In some cases, these effects on percolation threshold can be calculated based on 3D computational simulations [13]. Also, analysis of percolation threshold in a type of polymers filled with penetrable and impenetrable graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) is carried out by 3D Monte Carlo simulation [14].…”