Mechanical Properties of a Biocomposite Based on Carbon Nanotube and Graphene Nanoplatelet Reinforced Polymers: Analytical and Numerical Study

Biocomposites based on thermoplastic polymers and natural fibers have recently been used in wind turbine blades, to replace non-biodegradable materials. In addition, carbon nanofillers, including carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), are being implemented to enhance the mechanic...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Marwane Rouway, Mourad Nachtane, Mostapha Tarfaoui, Nabil Chakhchaoui, Lhaj El Hachemi Omari, Fouzia Fraija, Omar Cherkaoui
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
Series:Journal of Composites Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2504-477X/5/9/234
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Summary:Biocomposites based on thermoplastic polymers and natural fibers have recently been used in wind turbine blades, to replace non-biodegradable materials. In addition, carbon nanofillers, including carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), are being implemented to enhance the mechanical performance of composites. In this work, the Mori–Tanaka approach is used for homogenization of a polymer matrix reinforced by CNT and GNP nanofillers for the first homogenization, and then, for the second homogenization, the effective matrix was used with alfa and E-glass isotropic fibers. The objective is to study the influence of the volume fraction <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>V</mi><mi>f</mi></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> and aspect ratio AR of nanofillers on the elastic properties of the composite. The inclusions are considered in a unidirectional and random orientation by using a computational method by Digimat-MF/FE and analytical approaches by Chamis, Hashin–Rosen and Halpin–Tsai. The results show that CNT- and GNP-reinforced nanocomposites have better performance than those without reinforcement. Additionally, by increasing the volume fraction and aspect ratio of nanofillers, Young’s modulus <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>E</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula> increases and Poisson’s ratio <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>ν</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula> decreases. In addition, the composites have enhanced mechanical characteristics in the longitudinal orientation for CNT- reinforced polymer and in the transversal orientation for GNP-reinforced polymer.
ISSN:2504-477X