Lightweight Tankage Materials for Military Space Applications

The current status of the technology being developed for linerless cryogenic storage tanks by the Wilson Composite Group, inc. utilizes a toughened epoxy resin. This resin requires pressure application during the cure cycle and use of an autoclave. Since large size autoclaves are limited in availability, this program will select and test under cryogenic conditions alternate materials which do not require autoclave pressure curing. These materials will be selected from available candidates from composites industry suppliers. Permeability/leakage tests will be conducted on composite coupons, using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. In addition to evaluating the cryogenic capability of these resin systems, the compatibility of the resins with potential manufacturing processes, primarily filament winding, for linerless tankage will be evaluated. The result of the program will be a selection of at least three potential materials for use in linerless tankage technology. Selected test samples will be manufactured for evaluation to confirm the coupon tests for selected materials.