Advanced Thermally Remendable Carbon-Polymer Composites

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer-matrix composites provide lightweight structural components for aerospace applications, including military aircraft and satellites. In spite of their high strength and modulus, their long-term durability and damage tolerance are of concern, particularly in relation to the weak interlaminar interface and the consequent tendency of delamination. To detect damage, researches have used changes in the intrinsic electrical resistance of the composite to determine the location, extent and type of damage.  This detection method, which is enabled by the conductivity of the carbon fiber, results in resistive heating.  Lynntech and SUNY/Buffalo propose to take advantage of the resistive heating of damaged materials by using thermally remendable polymers within the composites to provide self-healing capability which is initiated following mechanical damage.  By incorporating thermally remendable polymers within the composite, the resistive heating can result in self-healing of microcracks. The Phase I work will involve developing carbon- polymer composites and determining  the effectiveness of the resistive heating and self-healing. The Phase II work will involve optimization of the material properties, development of a process for large-scale production, and testing under static and fatigue loading. BENEFIT: The development of advanced self-healing carbon polymer composites will provide significant benefits to the Air Force and DoD including enhanced service life of structural composites which will result in tremendous life cycle cost savings.  The composites have dual-use (military and private sector) applications for numerous space, air, sea and land vehicles. In addition to military applications, the commercial potential for this technology in private sector applications is extremely high.  Materials that are capable of self-healing will provide a substantial improvement to the state-of-the-art.)