A static/dynamic micromechanical model of graphene-reinforced polymer matrix nanocomposites with consideration of the nanoscale interphase

As a kind of potential excellent materials, polymer-based nanocomposites with nanoreinforcements have become increasingly attractive in recent years, especially the latest graphene reinforced polymer matrix nanocomposites in virtue of the distinctive extremely-large aspect ratio of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). In this paper, we propose a static/dynamic micromechanical model of graphene-reinforced polymer nanocomposites, with consideration of the nanoscale interfaces and random orientations of GNPs, to effectively predict their static and dynamic mechanical behavior. The nanoscale interfaces of GNPs are introduced into the micromechanical model as the third phase to reflect their key role in the shear-load transfer between graphene and the matrix. The elastic modulus of graphene used in the model has been corrected as an effective modulus, based on a micromechanical statistics analysis of randomly-distributed orientations of GNPs. The dynamic model of the nanocomposites is established on the basis of the static one, in which the rate effect is introduced through the matrix using an improved Maxwell element method. Finally, the proposed static and dynamic models are applied in GNP/Epoxy nanocomposites to obtain the reasonable predictions of their viscoelastic behaviors, and have been well validated by experimental data. So, this work should be able to provide a micromechanical theoretical basis to the optimal material design of graphene reinforced polymer nanocomposites for better performance in engineering applications.