Resin Transfer Molding of High Temperature Composites

Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) offers the opportunity for significant cost savings in the fabrication of polymer matrix composite structures. However, the realization of this cost savings has been limited to lower temperature (e.g. epoxy) matrix composites. The main reason for this has been that available high temperature (e.g. polymide) composites have not possessed the characteristics which make them amenable to the RTM process. Newer systems have been developed (e.g. Phthalonitrile) but their use as high temperature RTM systems have not been proven. In addition, the exploration of novel (lower molecular weight) polymide resin formulations for RTM application has not yet been attempted. The overall goal of the proposed program is to develop resin transfer moldable high-temperature (550F-700F) resin systems and processes. A two pronged approach involving both materials adn process engineering will be utilized to reach this objective; 1) newe high-temperature resins will be screened via conventional RTM tooling and equipment will be screened vai conventional RTM processing, and 2) unique RTM tooling and equipment will be screened via study "novel" high-melt flow polyimide oligomeric polymers. A 6-month Phase I SBIR effort is proposed.