2019 Volume 45 Issue 1 Pages 3-10
This study evaluates the mechanical properties of carbon fiber/polymer interfaces. The specimens are of three types: carbon fiber/vinyl ester resin, carbon fiber/epoxy resin, and carbon fiber/polyimide resin. Microbond tests are carried out, and the fiber load at interface debonding is obtained. By performing finite element analysis, true interface strengths are determined. The strength values are in the following order: polyimide specimen>epoxy specimen>vinyl ester specimen. Molecular modeling is performed for these specimens. Three stacked graphene layers are considered to be the carbon fiber surface and the interface energy is evaluated. The interface energy of these three systems are in the same order as the strength. By performing the molecular simulation, a qualitative discussion is possible. Next, the interface debonding simulation is performed, but the interface does not fail, while the resin part fails, meaning that this is an evaluation of the resin strength and not the interface strength. For the quantitative evaluation of the interfacial debonding strength, further study is necessary.
