Applying a generic and fast coarse-grained molecular dynamics model to extensively study the mechanical behavior of polymer nanocomposites

Abstract

The addition of nano-sized filler particles enhances the mechanical performance of polymers. The resulting properties of the polymer nanocomposite depend on a complex interplay of influence factors such as material pairing, filler size, and content, as well as filler-matrix adhesion. As a complement to experimental studies, numerical methods, such as molecular dynamics (MD), facilitate an isolated examination of the individual factors in order to understand their interaction better. However, particle-based simulations are, in general, computationally very expensive, rendering a thorough investigation of nanocomposites’ mechanical behavior both expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, this paper presents a fast coarse-grained MD model for a generic nanoparticle-reinforced thermoplastic. First, we examine the matrix and filler phase indi-vidually, which exhibit isotropic elasto-viscoplastic and anisotropic elastic behavior, respectively. Based on this, we demon-strate that the effect of filler size, filler content, and filler-matrix adhesion on the stiffness and strength of the nanocomposite corresponds very well with experimental findings in the literature. Consequently, the presented computationally efficient MD model enables the analysis of a generic polymer nanocomposite. In addition to the obtained insights into mechanical behavior, the material characterization provides the basis for a future continuum mechanical description, which bridges the gap to the engineering scale.