Elastic Modulus of Nanofiller in Polymer-Matrix Composites

Abstract

The paper explores the stiffness of the nanofiller particle aggregates in polymer matrix composites, such as particulate reinforced, carbon nanotube polymer and graphene polymer composites, i.e. composites reinforced with 0D, 1D and 2D nanofillers. It is shown that independently of the nanofiller, the structure of its particle aggregates is characterized by the fractal dimension as a physically accurate parameter. The true elastic modulus of the nanofiller particle aggregates is determined by two factors, namely the aggregates structure and the stiffness of the polymer matrix. The idea about the reinforcement degree control of polymer-matrix composites by the nanofiller structure is proved in this paper.