Comparative analysis of the efficiency of carbon nanotubes and graphene in reinforcement of polymer nanocomposites

The comparative analysis of reinforcement efficiency (modulus of elasticity enhancement) of polymers with carbon nanotubes and grapheme was performed using the methods of fractal analysis and percolation theory. It has been shown that such comparison is correct only at the same structure of the indicated anisotropic nanofillers in polymer matrix. For carbon nanotubes reinforcement efficiency depends strongly on their geometry, i.e. length and outer diameter. In addition the main role in polymers reinforcement play not initial characteristics of nanofiller, but its structures, obtained in production process of nanocomposites. In technological aspect carbon nanotubes are more suitable for manufacture of high-modulus nanocomposites, that is due to possibility of simple enough realization of their orientation.