Analysis of the effect of manufacturing imperfections in the elastic properties of platelet nanocomposites

We have developed and validated a conceptually simple model capable of predicting the macroscale elastic properties of a platelet nanocomposite. The model allows for studying the individual and combined effect of the parameters with influence on those properties, namely nanofiller weight fraction, misalignment, dispersion quality, size distribution and nanofiller-matrix interfacial characteristics. The model shows a very good correlation with experimental results. The interfacial characteristics under different strain states are evaluated at the nanoscale by means of a cohesive model which considers out-of-plane strains and angular distortions, so that the full, strain-dependent elastic tensor can be calculated, allowing for homogenization and subsequent study of the effect of filler orientation, dispersion quality and size distribution on the elastic properties at the macroscale. The use of a low complexity nanoscale model allows us to conceptually and quantitatively explain the causes underlying the divergences between the expected and experimental macroscale material stiffness experimentally found by different researchers.