Prediction of interphase parameters for nanocellulose composites using a modified Halpin–Tsai approach

This study developed a modified Halpin–Tsai model to predict the tensile modulus of nanocellulose (NC) composites. The model considers the interphase section of NC composites. The modified model's accuracy was determined by comparing tensile modulus values predicted by it with experimentally measured tensile modulus values obtained from the literature. The predicted tensile moduli showed reasonable agreement with experimental values. The nanocomposite modulus was found to be adversely affected by high thickness and small length of NC, and the maximum Young’s modulus was obtained at the highest depth and modulus of interphase. Furthermore, various values of non-constant and constant orientation coefficients (a) in the Halpin–Tsai model were examined. On the basis of our results, the moduli determined from the modified Halpin–Tsai equation were similar to experimental values when the three-dimensional alignment of fibers was considered in the coefficient a.