Stochastic model for the transfer of gaseous particles in polymer-carbon-nanotube nanocomposites with interfacial regions.

Abstract

In this work, a stochastic model of gaseous transfer in polymer-carbon-nanotube (CNT) nanocomposites is presented. The model takes into account interfacial areas, i.e., polymer depletion regions. The local regime of transport is controlled by the density of the polymer. In a dense polymer, this regime corresponds to the ordinary diffusion, while in free volume regions, it corresponds to the ballistic transport. The introduction of a free volume and/or a depleted polymer layer near to a CNT wall leads to the emergence of anomalous diffusion. We have demonstrated how the anomalous diffusion regime changes in the presence of nanotubes for different distributions of polymer density. The presented approach allows us to describe the threshold effect in the diffusion coefficient as a function of CNTs density in polymer-CNT nanocomposites.