Modelling the behaviour of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composites for 3D printing
The goal of this project is to develop and validate a model to optimise the CNT content in the cement matrix to produce a conductive, self-sensing and reinforced cement composite for 3DP.
In CNTs-mortar composites, the electrical conductivity is governed by two main phenomena: electron hopping mechanisms and conductive networks. When the percentage of CNTs is below a certain threshold, CNTs are far from each other, and conductivity depends on the possibility of the electrons hopping from one nanotube to the other through the tunnelling effect. When the concentration of CNTs inside the matrix reaches a threshold value (which depends purely on their aspect ratio), consecutive CNTs link to each other to create a conductive network.