Interface strengthening mechanisms of Ti/CFRP fiber metal laminate after adding MWCNTs to resin matrix

Since the interface is the relatively weak area of fiber metal laminates (FMLs), the reinforcement of metal/resin interface is desired urgently. In this study, a metallic-inorganic-organic system and related equations were developed to describe the interfacial behaviors. The effect and mechanism of MWCNTs was analyzed under the system by using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were added to the polyimide (PI) matrix to validate the analysis result and the enhancement effect. It was found that Van der Waals force and chemical bond of MWCNTs as driven forces could improve the interface performance significantly. If laying the MWCNTs perpendicular or at 45 to the Ti surface, the interface strength would reach the maximum. The presented method could also be apply to study the graphene or other strengthening phases.