Modeling Percolation in Polymer Nanocomposites by Stochastic Microstructuring

Materials

Matias Soto¹  Milton Esteva¹  Oscar Martínez-Romero¹  Jesús Baez²  Alex El໚s-Zúñiga¹ 

[1] Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey, N.L. 64849, Mexico;Centro de Estudios de Energía, Dpto. de Ing. Eléctrica, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey, N.L. 64849, Mexico;

关键词: carbon nanotubes;    electrical properties;    conductivity;    percolation;    Monte Carlo;    nanocomposites;    nodal voltage;    simulations;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ma8105334

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

A methodology was developed for the prediction of the electrical properties of carbon nanotube-polymer nanocomposites via Monte Carlo computational simulations. A two-dimensional microstructure that takes into account waviness, fiber length and diameter distributions is used as a representative volume element. Fiber interactions in the microstructure are identified and then modeled as an equivalent electrical circuit, assuming one-third metallic and two-thirds semiconductor nanotubes. Tunneling paths in the microstructure are also modeled as electrical resistors, and crossing fibers are accounted for by assuming a contact resistance associated with them. The equivalent resistor network is then converted into a set of linear equations using nodal voltage analysis, which is then solved by means of the Gauss–Jordan elimination method. Nodal voltages are obtained for the microstructure, from which the percolation probability, equivalent resistance and conductivity are calculated. Percolation probability curves and electrical conductivity values are compared to those found in the literature.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.