The influence of interphase between nanoparticles and matrix on Young’s Modulus of nanocomposites

Thin nanocomposite films are gaining increasing significance in flexible and light weight electronic devices as well as emerging nanoelectronic structures. The present work investigates the influence of the interphase between spherical nanoparticles and a polymer matrix on the Youngpsilas modulus and shear modulus of a nanocomposite thin film. The interphase region is considered inhomogeneous, but isotropic, thus is modeled as a function of the thickness of the interphase region, which is affected by the material properties of the nanoparticles, the polymer matrix, as well as the volume fraction of the nanocomposite. The property of the interphase at the matrix boundary is assumed to be smooth and continuous, while at the particle boundary it is discontinuous. The replacement method is adopted to calculate the shear modulus and Youngpsilas modulus of the nanocomposite, based on the mathematical model of the interphase. The results are compared with the experimental data in literature.