CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION/HYBRID FIBERS FOR STRUCTURAL THERMAL AND ELECTRICAL APPLICATIONS

A NEED EXISTS FOR COMPOSITE REINFORCEMENTS WHICH HAVE ENHANCED AND COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH, WHILE RETAINING GOOD TENSILE STRENGTH AND MODULUS. THIS EFFORT EXPLORES A METHOD OF FIBER COATING WHICH ALLOWS VARYING OF THE REINFORCING FIBER DIAMETER. THE RESULT IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE A COMPOSITE WITH THE DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS OF INCREASED COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH, WHILE PROVIDING A HIGHLY OXIDATION RESISTANT CARBON FINISH ON THE FIBER SURFACE. IT SHOULD ALSO INCREASE THE THERMAL AND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF THE CARBON FIBER TO PERMIT ITS APPLICATION IN THERMAL ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, "SMART" AIRCRAFT SKINS, AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THESE HIGH STRENGTH, HIGH THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOSITES HAVE NUMEROUSAPPLICATIONS IN HIGH PERFORMANCE ENGINES, AEROSPACE VEHICLES, AND OTHER HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPONENTS. POTENTIAL USES INCLUDE THERMIONIC CONVERSION SYSTEMS, LIGHTWEIGHT ELECTRICAL CABLE, LIGHTWEIGHT RADAR ANTENNAS, AND ELECTROMAGNETIC SHIELDING.