Advanced Materials, Vol.19, No.22, 4038-4038, 2007
A strategy for dimensional percolation in sheared nanorod dispersions
Dimensional percolation thresholds of sheared nanorod dispersions are characterized with a novel 3-part numerical strategy. Nanorod probability distribution functions (PDFs) are computed versus shear rate and volume fraction, including rotational diffusion and excluded-volume interactions. A Monte Carlo algorithm draws from each PDF to populate physical shear-processed monodomains. A data-mining algorithm yields nanoparticle percolation statistics in all directions relative to the flow (x), flow-gradient (y), and vorticity (z) axes.