A filler-matrix interaction model for the large deformation response of graphene nanocomposite - A PVA-GO nanocomposite example

The large deformation tensile stress-strain response of graphene nanocomposites was investigated, whereby Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) - graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites with different GO concentrations were prepared, and subjected to quasi-static tension. Test results indicate that the normal stress on the GO filler phase does not increase for global strains beyond about 0.05. This was confirmed by subjecting specimens to different degrees of tension and examining them via Raman spectroscopy. The change in stress of GO filler is attributed to interfacial slip between the filler and matrix. Adoption of the Mori-Tanaka (M-T) simulations at the microscale is unable to reproduce the experimental stress-strain response of the nanocomposites when slip between the matrix and filler occurs, since perfect bonding between them is assumed in the M-T perspective. Consequently, an interfacial slip model was formulated and incorporated into the M-T method, and good agreement between the modified model and experiments was observed.