Graphite Fiber Reinforced Mg for EKV Mirrors and Optical Support Structures for Be Replacement and Enhanced Performance: Component Demonstration and C

MMCC will manufacture its standard discontinuous graphite fiber reinforced Mg alloy AZ31 optimized to a CTE of 2 ppm/K for evaluation by Raytheon Missile Systems for EKV mirror and Be applications. Additionally, MMCC will provide Raytheon evaluation panels of its new products based upon filament winding of high modulus fibers that can be arranged with a zero CTE and 30% higher stiffness than Be in the optical axis, and a SiC matching CVD SiC in the transverse (mirror plane) direction. While Raytheon is performing evaluations on these materials, MMCC will be developing egg crate structures and bonding surrogate Si membranes onto the surface of standard MetGraf Mg-2 as well as egg crate substructures. This technology when, developed for hybridization with CVD SiC semi-replica mirror front and back membranes, promises to result in the stiffest, lightest, most thermally stable of any rigid mirror yet contemplated or proposed. The phase I Option project will feature delivery of standard MetGraf Mg 2 as well as filament wound egg crate substrates attached to Si front and back membranes to Raytheon for evaluation. The architecture for stiff-zero CTE materials will serve well for support structures, optical benches in EKV and other sensor and surveillance optics.