A thermomechanical comparative study on carbon and boron nitride nanotube-reinforced polymer composites

Abstract

The reinforcement effect of boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) and carbon nanotube (CNT) on thermoelastic behavior of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanocomposites was compared through a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and mean-field micromechanics model. Uniaxial tension, shearing, cooling down, and pullout simulations were implemented in MD simulations. In micromechanics, the multi-inclusion (M-I) model was adopted. Both nanocomposites showed similar transversely isotropic elastic constants and coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs). BNNTs provided better interfacial load transfer and dispersibility with PMMA; meanwhile, CNTs reduced the CTE of the matrix more. For both nanocomposites, the thermoelastic behavior was sensitive to the interfacial imperfection and interphase zone.