title: Permeability and conductivity of platelet-reinforced membranes and composites.
abstract: We present large-scale simulations of the diffusion constant D of a random composite consisting of aligned platelets with aspect ratio a/b>>1 in a matrix (with diffusion constant D0) and find that D/D(0)=1/(1+c(1)x+c(2)x(2)), where x=av(f)/b and v(f) is the platelet volume fraction. We demonstrate that for large aspect ratio platelets the pair term (x(2)) dominates suggesting large property enhancements for these materials. However, a small amount of face-to-face ordering of the platelets markedly degrades the efficiency of platelet reinforcement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics/Astronomy and Center for Fundamental Materials Research, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA. nagy_t@pa.msu.edu
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Duxbury