High Strength, High Modulus Nano-Composite Missile Structures (MSC P7017)

The Army has expressed a need for developing lighter weight alternatives to replace the aluminum structural components currently used in high performance missile systems. While advances have been made in formulating chopped carbon fiber composites with improved mechanical strength and stiffness at much lower densities than aluminum, current state-of-the-art chopped fiber reinforced composites do not provide the desired strength and/or stiffness properties. Newer material formulations and processing approaches using carbon nanotube reinforced composites and tailored, oriented fiber reinforcements are proposed to offer the potential for improving mechanical properties. The proposed innovation involves the formulation and characterization of improved CNT-reinforced molding compounds, and high stiffness/high strength structural components, that are produced using tailored reinforcement forms and material constructions rather. This processing approach allows the use of higher concentrations of CNT and chopped fiber reinforcements for improved properties at “processable” viscosities. Structural components fabricated using customized oriented molding compounds will be developed and evaluated to achieve increased properties and improved processing characteristics over more conventional chopped fiber moldng compounds. An Integrated Product Team has been assembled to ensure successful transition of the material and processing technology to viable military and commercial products.