Effect of Flake Distribution on Elastic Properties of Flake Composites

Single-flake and multi-flake models of oriented flake reinforced composites have been constructed to evaluate the elastic properties of the composites. A “bundled matrix” concept was assumed to examine the effect of the flake distribution in the matrix on the longitudinal elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio of the flake composites. The equations derived from the single-flake and multi-flake models anticipate that the longitudinal elastic properties of the oriented flake composites vary with the flake distribution in the matrix, as well as indirectly with the geometry of the flake. The longitudinal elastic modulus of the composite is predicted to be lower than that defined by the average rule of mixture for awide range of flake volume fraction exceptwhen the flake volume fraction is large enough to bundle all matrix with flake.