Optimal nanomaterial concentration: Harnessing percolation theory to enhance polymer nanocomposite performance

Roey Nadiv, Michael Shtein, Gal Shachar, Maxim Varenik, Oren Regev

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

A major challenge in nanocomposite research is to predict the optimal nanomaterial concentration (ONC) yielding a maximal reinforcement in a given property. We present a simple approach to identify the ONC based on our finding that it is typically located in close proximity to an abrupt increase in polymer matrix viscosity, termed the rheological percolation threshold, and thus may be used as an indicator of the ONC. This premise was validated by rheological and fractography studies of composites loaded by nanomaterials including graphene nanoribbons or carbon or tungsten disulfide nanotubes. The correlation between in situ viscosity, the rheological percolation threshold concentration and the nanocomposite fractography demonstrates the utility of the method.

Original languageEnglish
Article number305701
JournalNanotechnology
Volume28
Issue number30
DOIs
StatePublished - 4 Jul 2017

Keywords

  • carbon nanotubes
  • fractography
  • grapheme
  • nano composites
  • percolation
  • rheology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Bioengineering
  • General Chemistry
  • General Materials Science
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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