Molecular dynamics study of the interfacial strength between carbon fiber and phenolic resin

The interfacial strength between carbon fiber and phenolic resin is studied using molecular dynamics simulations to demonstrate that carbon fiber-reinforced carbon matrix composites (C/C composites) have improved tensile strength. Simulations are performed using two carbon fiber models, one of which has only carbon atoms and the other has carbon atoms and some fluorinated carbon groups. The carbon fiber models are regarded as two-layer graphite, and the phenolic resin model is treated as cross-linked structures. All force field parameters are based on the Dreiding force field. The tensile stress and interfacial fracture energy are calculated for the estimation of the interfacial strength. The results show that the model including the fluorinated carbon groups has lower interfacial strength than the model having only carbon atoms, up to a certain coating ratio of fluorinated carbon groups. Similarly, within the limits of the coating ratio, the interfacial fracture energy of the fluorinated carbon fiber model is lower than that of carbon fiber model having only carbon atoms.