Conductive Filler Modified Polymers for Structural Health Monitoring Applications

• Author / Creator

  Biabangard Oskouyi, Amirhossein

• In this thesis, a novel three-dimensional continuum percolation model based on Monte Carlo simulation approach was developed and employed to investigate the percolation behavior of the electrically insulating matrix reinforced with conductive nanoplatelet fillers such as graphene. The conductivity behavior of composites rendered conductive by randomly dispersed conductive platelets was modeled by developing a three-dimensional finite element resistor network. Parameters related to the percolation threshold and a power-law describing the conductivity behavior were determined. The piezoresistivity behavior of conductive composites was studied employing a reoriented resistor network emulating a conductive composite subjected to mechanical strain. The effects of the governing parameters, i.e., electron tunneling distance, conductive particle aspect ratio and size effects on conductivity behavior were examined. In this thesis, a numerical modeling approach was used to investigate the current-voltage behavior of conductive nanoplatelet based nanocomposites. A nonlinear finite element based model was developed to evaluate the electrical behavior of the nanocomposite for different levels of the applied electric field. Furthermore, the effect of filler loading on nonlinear conductivity behavior of nanocomposites was investigated. The validity of the developed model was verified through qualitative comparison of the simulation results with results obtained from experimental works. The effect of temperature on electrical conductivity of polymer nanocomposites with carbon nanotube and graphene nanoplatelet fillers was investigated. Other aspects such as polymer tunneling and filler resistivities were also considered as.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Structural Health Monitoring
  • Polymers
  • Nanocmposite

• Graduation date

  Spring 2015

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Doctor of Philosophy

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3HH6CC6B

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.