Simulations on the elastic response of amorphous and nanocomposite carbon

Abstract

Theoretical calculations of the elastic response of carbon composites and amorphous carbon are reported. The studied composites consist of crystalline nanoinclusions, either spherical diamonds or carbon nanotubes, embedded in amorphous carbon matrices. The elastic constants of the composites were calculated and found to systematically increase as the density increases. The elastic recovery under hydrostatic pressure for all structures was also investigated and was found to be significantly high for both nanocomposite and amorphous carbon, but decreases as the material becomes more dilute.