2020 Volume 41 Issue 5 Pages 186-192
Thermosetting polymer materials, especially epoxy resin, are developed as matrix resin in carbon fiber reinforced plastic expected to be used for aircraft and other transportation equipment structural materials. We are trying to clarify the relationship between molecular structure and basic physical, thermal and mechanical properties of resin. Additionally, we believe that predicting resin's properties by molecular dynamics simulation will lead to the promotion of material development. Comparing with the results of actual curing experiments, we consider the simulation results of estimating various properties of epoxy resin. As a result of simulation analysis, it was clarified that the average distribution of free volume changes as the curing reaction progresses, and the possibility as a data analysis method to capture the heterogeneity of thermosetting resins at the molecular level was suggested.
