Civil and Environmental Engineering
 
 
Molecular Scale Interface Engineering of Hybrid Calcium-Based Composites

Among the various phenomena that influence calcium-based composite materials, the interfacial interaction between the solid phases, the carbon reinforcing structure, and any surrounding liquid is the most important. Behaviors at the reinforcing structure–solid phase interface and reinforcing structure–liquid phase interface are highly dependent upon the local molecular arrangement and dynamics (i.e., interaction energy and molecular diffusion). They must be accurately characterized in order to provide a fundamental understanding of the complex, interfacial interactions and interface load-transfer mechanisms that can, in turn, provide the building blocks for models of macroscopic constitutive behavior.

Our group utilizes molecular dynamics and molecular mechanics modeling to understand interfacial molecular structure and dynamics at solid–solid and solid–liquid interfaces that control reinforcement mechanisms and how they relate to interfacial mechanical behavior.

Selected References

"Interaction energies, structure, and dynamics at functionalized graphitic structure–liquid phase interfaces in an aqueous calcium sulfate solution by molecular dynamics simulation," F. Sanchez and L. Zhang. Carbon, Available online December 3, 2009. View Abstract.

"Molecular dynamics modeling of the interface between surface functionalized graphitic structures and calcium-silicate-hydrate: Interaction energies, structure, and dynamics," F. Sanchez and L. Zhang. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 323(2), 349-358, 2008. View Abstract.