Mesoscopic simulation of the electrical conductivity of carbon nanotube reinforced polymers regarding atomistic results. (February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bartels, Julian; Kuhn, Eduard; Jürgens, Jan-Patrick; Ploshikhin, Vasily
• Is Part Of: Journal of composite materials. Volume 52:Number 3(2018)
• Page Start: 331
• Page End: 339
• Publication Date: 2018-02
• Subjects: Carbon nanotube reinforced polymers -- conductivity -- representative volume element -- polymer -- polyethylene -- carbon nanotube -- simulation -- percolation threshold -- mesoscopic -- nanocomposite; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Composites -- Périodiques; 620.118
• DOI: 10.1177/0021998317706537
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9983

Abstract

Carbon nanotube reinforced polymers belong to a class of composite materials, which have been largely investigated due to their specific electrical, thermal and mechanical properties. In the case of electrical conductivity of carbon nanotube reinforced polymers, a critical amount of filler material ensures a sharp increase of conductivity. The material forms a percolation pathway and instantly turns the composite into a conductor. Mesoscopic simulations of these materials were carried out to predict electrical conductivity of carbon nanotube reinforced polymers and their critical amounts. This research work deals with percolation thresholds, converging representative volume elements and the effect of the discontinuous behaviour of conductivity considering tunnelling effects found in atomistic approaches on mesoscopic simulation models.