Modeling the Role of Bulk and Surface Characteristics of Carbon Fiber on Thermal Conductance across the Carbon Fiber/Matrix Interface (Postprint)

Abstract

The rapid heating of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites leads to complex thermophysical interactions which not only are dependent on the thermal properties of the constituents and microstructure but are also dependent on the thermal transport between the fiber and resin interfaces. Using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, the thermal conductance across the interface between a carbon-fiber near-surface region and bismaleimide monomer matrix is calculated as a function of the interface and bulk features of the carbon fiber. The surface of the carbon fiber is modeled as sheets of graphitic carbon with (a) varying degrees of surface functionality, (b) varying defect concentrations in the surface-carbon model (pure graphitic vs partially graphitic), (c) varying orientation of graphitic carbon at the interface, (d) varying interface saturation (dangling vs saturated bonds), (e) varying degrees of surface roughness, and (f) incorporating high conductive fillers (carbon nanotubes) at the interface. After combining separately equilibrated matrix system and different surface-carbon models, thermal energy exchange is investigated in terms of interface thermal conductance across the carbon fiber and the matrix.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 09, 2015
Accession Number
AD1030638

Entities

People

  • Ajit K. Roy
  • Jeffery W Baur
  • Vikas Varshney

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and Manufacturing Directorate

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Carbon Fibers
  • Carbon Nanotubes
  • Composite Materials
  • Energy Transfer
  • Fullerenes
  • Graphene
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Testing
  • Molecular Dynamics
  • Molecular Mechanics Methods
  • Polymer Matrix Composites
  • Simulations
  • Thermal Conductivity

Fields of Study

  • Materials science
  • Physics

Readers

  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Nanocomposite Materials Science
  • Reinforced Composite Materials