Multiscale Mechanics of Nanocomposites

Carbon fibers and plates are currently considered to be most promising. The recent discovery of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nanoplates have gained everbroaded interest due to providing unique properties generated by their structural perfection, small size, low density, high strength, and excellent electronic properties (for references see Subsection 1.1.2). Polymeric composites reinforced with nanoelements of nanometer scale recently attracted tremendous attention in material engineering. The general comprehensive reviews of the various types of nanocomposites were given in [486], [582], [927], [1099]. Due to the high surface area and small interlayer distances, the nanoelements can, in principle, change the properties of polymer matrix due to the changing of polymer morphology and chain conformation. The design and fabrication of these materials are performed on the nanometer scale with the ultimate goal to obtain highly desirable macroscopic properties. Many mechanical, physical, and chemical factors could potentially form the properties of nanocomposites, and a better understanding of their relative contributions is needed. A question of a correct choice of a structural model applicable to nanocomposites presents many challenges for mechanics and will be considered in this chapter from the point of view of allowing for the random orientation and clustering effect of nanoelements in the nanocomposites.