Advanced Kolarik model for the modulus of a nanocomposite system reinforced by halloysite nanotubes and interphase zone

Abstract In the current article, Kolarik model is progressed for the tensile modulus of a polymeric system containing dispersed halloysite nanotubes (HNT) and adjacent interphase section. The progressive model correlates the nanocomposite's modulus to HNT concentration (volume fraction and weight percentage), the extents of HNT and nearby interphase section in addition to the densities of polymer medium and HNT. The productions of the progressive model are linked to the tentative results and the influences of all variables on the modulus of system are justified. The modulus of system reduces as HNT radius increases, but HNT weight percentage directly controls the nanocomposite's modulus. The modulus of samples maximizes by 47% by the deepest interphase section of 20 nm establishing a straight link among nanocomposite's modulus and interphase thickness. The increment of polymer matrix density improves the modulus of samples, but there is an opposite relation between the modulus of system and HNT density. Furthermore, the calculations exactly match to the experimental facts of numerous examples representing the accurateness of the progressed model.