LAUSR

Abstract This work suggests a new methodology based on a micromechanics model to predict the tensile modulus and network formation in polymer/CNT nanocomposites above percolation threshold of nanoparticles. A network parameter (NP) depending on the percolation threshold and network properties is introduced. The predictions of the model are evaluated by experimental data of samples from literature. The influences of effective parameters on the modulus and NP are estimated using 3D and contour plots. The predictions of the suggested model agree with experimental results above percolation threshold. The model also overpredicts the modulus in the samples not containing a nanoparticle network. The suggested model presents the logical correlations of modulus to effective parameters such as CNT volume fraction, percolation threshold, CNT aspect ratio and CNT modulus. In addition, NP directly and inversely depends on CNT aspect ratio and percolation threshold, respectively.