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In this study, the moisture related hygroscopic characteristics and mechanical properties of polymer–clay nanocomposites (PCNs) were investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and experiments as a function of the weight fraction of nanoclay. The hygroscopic and mechanical properties including the moisture saturation amount, moisture diffusivity, work of adhesion, and elastic modulus of the PCNs were studied using MD simulations and compared to experimental results as a function of the nanoclay content. It was demonstrated that the proposed MD simulation technique can be successfully used for the prediction of the effects of the nanoclay on the moisture diffusion characteristics as well as mechanical improvements of PCNs. It is expected that the simulation technique applied in this work can be widely used to evaluate the performances of nanocomposite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this work, damage sensing and self-healing of carbon fiber polypropylene (CFPP)/carbon nanotube (CNT) nano-composite were performed based on addressable conducting network (ACN). To increase damage sensing resolution of CFPP/CNT nano-composite, through-thickness electrical conductivity was improved by adjusting press condition and spraying carbon nanotubes (CNT) between prepregs. From the results, electrical resistivity in thickness direction was reduced to 19.44 Ω·mm under 1.0 MPa and 1.0 wt% of CNT condition. Also, self-healing efficiency was examined with respect to the temperature and time via resistive heating of CFPP/CNT nano-composite. As a result, the optimized fabrication and self-healing condition exhibited high resolution of damage sensing with outstanding self-healing efficiency (96.83%) under fourth cycle of repeated three-point bending test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]