Analysis of the Linearly Viscoelastic Behavior of Nanotube-Reinforced Polymer Composites

In the last few years a lot of efforts have been made to demonstrate that the addition of carbon nanotubes, even with a small volume fraction, can substantially enhance the stiffness and strength of polymers [1]. Nevertheless, very limited attention has been paid to the viscoelastic responses of nanotube-reinforced polymer composites. Several groups have investigated the changes in glass transition temperatures of polymers induced by adding nanotubes to polymers [2–4]. Fisher [4] also studied the frequency response and the physical aging of polymers with or without nanotubes. However, the creep/stress relaxation behavior of nanotube-reinforced polymer composites is still not well understood. Experimental characterization tends to be configuration specific and expensive. Therefore, there is a need to develop analytical models that can predict the said behavior. The objective of this communication is to present a study on the creep behavior of carbon nanotube-reinforced polymer composites using a continuum-based micromechanics model.