AFFORDABLE OXIDATION INHIBITED CARBON-CARBON COMPOSITES FOR 1200 DEGREE F APPLICATION

Affordable/low cost carbon-carbon (C-C) composites are enabling to a number of defense, aerospace and commercial applications. However, in addition to cost, their limitation is carbon gasification in oxidative environments above about 750¿F (=400¿C). An inhibited carbon matrix that reduces oxidation rate by a factor of 200 with up to double the strength of uninhibited composites which could be produced for <$50/lb., would revolutionize the applications of C-C composites. A team of MER/Southern Research Institute (SRI) has demonstrated, in separate investigations, that low cost inhibited C-C composites can be produced with exceptional oxidation resistance and mechanical properties. This program will define and optimize molecular base additives that significantly inhibit C-C composites oxidation rate while enhancing mechanical properties. Low cost near net shape components will be demonstrated using the optimized inhibited formulation and translated into current commercialization applications.