  Short fiber reinforced polymer composites have found extensive industrial and
engineering applications owing to their unique combination of low cost,
relatively easy processing and superior mechanical properties compared to their
parent polymers. In this study, a coarse grained (CG) model of cross linked
carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced polymer matrix composites is developed. A
characteristic feature of the CG model is the ability to capture the
interactions between polymer chains, and nanotubes and polymer matrix. The
dependence of the elastic properties of the composites on the mole fraction of
cross links, and the weight fraction and distribution of nano tube
reinforcements is discussed. The simulation results reveal that the
fictionalization of CNTs using methylene cross links is a key factor toward
signicantly increasing the elastic properties of randomly distributed short CNT
reinforced poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix. The applicability of the
CG model in predicting the elastic properties of CNT reinforced polymer
composites is also evaluated through a verification process with a
micromechanical model for unidirectional short fibers.
