High Strength, High Modulus Nano-Composite Missile Structures

Over the past ten years, it has become increasingly clear that carbon fiber composites can replace more common engineering materials such as aluminum in weight critical, structural components, such as those found in missile systems. Nanoscale materials, such as carbon nanotubes, can impart superior mechanical properties to these composites, and thereby allow composites to replace more components. However, they require careful optimization before the properties inherent in nanomaterials are manifested in the bulk composites. In the proposed Phase-I investigation, NanoLab will apply our expertise in nanotube catalysis, growth, and chemical functionalization to chopped carbon fibers and the preparation of composites with them. NanoLab will work in this Phase I effort to identify the optimal length, site density, and functionalization scheme to optimize the properties of chopped fiber based, epoxy filled carbon composites, with the goal of matching the properties of aluminum alloy 7075 at a lower density.