Accession Number:

ADA581879

Title:

Structural Foaming at the Nano-, Micro-, and Macro-Scales of Continuous Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites

Descriptive Note:

Final performance rept. 1 Aug 2009-31 Jul 2012

Corporate Author:

GLOBAL NETWORK CORP SEATTLE WA

Personal Author(s):

Report Date:

2012-10-29

Pagination or Media Count:

16.0

Abstract:

The main objective of the project Structural Foaming at the Nano-, Micro-, and Macro-Scales of Continuous Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites, was to create fractal structures within each composite lamina and introduce scaled porosity. As this fractal structure was being created, it was observed that the structure imitated that of naturally occurring bird feathers. Consequently, the name given to this new generation of fractal structured composite materials with scaled porosity was deemed Featherweighttrademark Composites. The idea was to create lighter composites, and at the same time increase material strength. Through extensive characterization, two main interlayer enabling fractal systems were manufactured and characterized, first Carbon fiber - Epoxy Foam - CNTs, and second Carbon Fiber - Electrospun Nano-Fiber - CNTs, with both becoming transformed from the macro-, to micro-, and then nano-dimension. By focusing on low cost, the nano-materials utilized were not of the highest performance and quality. Nonetheless, with both interlayer systems, strength increased in several forms, such as fracture toughness 400, stiffness 150, flexural strength 80, and tensile strength 20, with percentages based on maximum values observed. At the same time, an experimental weight reduction of 10 was achieved. Finally, it is expected that if higher quality CNTs and matrix materials are used, the weight reduction can be higher, or even double that observed.

Descriptors:

Subject Categories:

  • Laminates and Composite Materials

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE


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