ABSTRACT
Nanocomposites with hybrid carbon nanofillers have emerged as an alternative to traditional composites displaying superior properties for use in a wide range of industrial applications. The incorporation of two nanofillers creates a better-interconnected network of fillers that leads to an increase in electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and mechanical strength. The network of fillers helps to enhance the adhesion strength and binding properties of the polymer matrix. Though many experimental investigations and theoretical estimations are presented in the literature, there is little information on the use of macroscale equivalent circuit models to account for the phase transformation that occurs in the nanocomposites due to the nanofillers or their hybrid combinations. In this chapter, the use of circuit modeling is enumerated for understanding the electrical properties of the glass fiber reinforced epoxy 292composites. The impedance and phase angle measurements in the frequency range from 10 Hz to 8 MHz form the basis of the circuit modeling process. The effect of temperature on the resulting circuit models is also considered over a temperature range of 25–120°C. The electrical circuit components are developed by a comparative multistep procedure, and by varying the circuit elements a good match of the results of the impedance spectra by simulation experimental is achieved. The equivalent circuits help to understand the physical mechanisms and phase transitions. These mechanisms occur due to the presence of conductive nanofillers of different weight percentages and temperature changes. The simulation of nanocomposites based on epoxy resin and nanofillers is presented.
