High Strength Low/Cost Fiber Reinforced Aluminum For Gun (1000-537)

Triton Systems Inc. (Triton) established the feasibility of fabricating carbon fiber reinforced aluminum matrix composites (Carbon-FRA) on the Phase I program by developing a carbon fiber passivation process that enables molten aluminum to wet fiber preforms at low pressure while preventing the formation of aluminum carbides at the carbon aluminum interface. The process involves the passivation of carbon fiber to enable low cost processing of very high performance, low cost metal matrix composite components using low-pressure infiltration techniques. The passivation layer on the surface of the fiber enables wetting of aluminum at low pressure, protection of the carbon from aluminum during infiltration and corrosion protection in service conditions. This technology is a significant enabler for graded materials from a refractory fbore surface into a metal matrix composite jacket. Anticipated properties of this MMC material include density lower than aluminum (2.2g/cc) very high strength, (up to 400 ksi), and high thermal conductivity (400w/m/K or better). The low-cost fiber coupled with low pressure processing enables a significant reduction in cost for completed components on the same order as commercially available castings.