Finite element multiscale modelling of elastic behavior of cellulose acetate—Graphene oxide nanocomposites, produced using a SC-CO2 assisted technique

This work focuses on the modelling of the mechanical performance of cellulose acetate-graphene oxide nanocomposite membranes, produced by supercritical CO2assisted phase inversion, using a set of algorithms able to build and integrate two different parametric variational 3D finite element (FE) models. These models simulate micro- and nano-level morphology of the nanocomposite using a multiscale approach. Microlevel is characterized by interconnected spherical pores; whereas, nanolevel is a composites whose filler is formed by graphene oxide sheets. Information about nanocomposite morphology, derived from electron scanning microscopy analyses, was used to build periodic representative volume elements. A numerical-experimental correlation was performed comparing FE model results with the experimental ones obtained by compression tests, at different weight percentages of graphene oxide with respect to the polymer loaded in the membrane. A good approximation of the experimental trend of Young modulus was obtained by FE simulations.