Accession Number:

AD0607653

Title:

DEVELOPMENT OF COMPOSITE STRUCTURAL MATERIALS FOR SPACE VEHICLE APPLICATIONS.

Descriptive Note:

Technical information series,

Corporate Author:

GENERAL ELECTRIC CO PHILADELPHIA PA MISSILE AND SPACE DIV

Personal Author(s):

• SUTTON,Willard H.

Report Date:

1961-07-01

Pagination or Media Count:

44.0

Abstract:

The concept of utilizing the extremely high strength of filamentary crystals whiskers for reinforcing metals is presented. Structural considerations of filament reinforcement and the problems of attaining the full reinforcing capabilities of whiskers are now discussed. An example is given for predicting the strengths of a composite consisting of a columbium alloy F-48 reinforced with sapphire Al2O3 whiskers. Such whiskers retain a considerable portion of their strength at elevated temperatures, e.g., tensile strengths of 150,000 psi at 3570 F. Calculations showed that reinforcing F-48 alloy with 50 Al2O3 whiskers could improve the strength-to-density ratio more than four-fold over a 3000 F temperature range. The preliminary results of an experimental program concerned with the development of composites of aluminum reinforced with Al2O3 whiskers and ZrO2 fibers are discussed. It is concluded that the crux of utilizing the full reinforcing potential of whiskers lies in the careful orientation, wetting, and bonding of the whiskers in the metal phase. Author

Descriptors:

• *ALUMINUM
• FIBER METALLURGY
• FIBER METALLURGY
• COMPOSITE MATERIALS
• REINFORCING MATERIALS
• FILAMENTS
• FIBERS
• NIOBIUM ALLOYS
• SAPPHIRE
• REFRACTORY MATERIALS
• ALUMINUM COMPOUNDS
• OXIDES
• ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
• TENSILE PROPERTIES
• STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS
• SPACECRAFT
• AIRFRAMES
• MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
• BONDING
• TUNGSTEN ALLOYS
• MOLYBDENUM ALLOYS
• ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS

Subject Categories:

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE