Effect of Nanotube Functionalization on the Elastic Properties of Polyethylene Nanotube Composites

The effects of the chemical functionalization of a single-wall carbon nanotube in nanotube/polyethylene compos-ites on the bulk elastic properties are presented. Constitutive equations are established for composites containing both functionalized and nonfunctionalized nanotubes using an equivalent-continuum modeling technique. The elastic properties of both composite systems are predicted for amorphous and crystalline polyethylene matrices with various nanotube lengths, volume fractions, and orientations. The results indicate that for the specific com-posite materials considered in this study most of the elastic stiffness constants of the composite with functionalized nanotubes are either less than or equal to those of the composite without functionalized nanotubes. Nomenclature A f = strain concentration tensor of effective fiber Ci jmn, C = elastic stiffness tensor of the composite C fkl, C f = elastic stiffness tensor of effective fiber Cmkl, Cm = elastic stiffness tensor of matrix C0 = elastic stiffness tensor of reference medium c f = effective fiber volume fraction DI = molecular mechanics parameter