MISSION RESEARCH CORPORATION (MRC) PROPOSES AN SBIR PHASE I EFFORT WHICH WILL INITIATE THE STUDY OFF FILAMENT WINDING TECHNIQUES TO DECREASE VOID FORMATION DURING FABRICATION OF STRUCTURAL COMPOSITES.

MISSION RESEARCH CORPORATION (MRC) PROPOSES AN SBIR PHASE I EFFORT WHICH WILL INITIATE THE STUDY OFF FILAMENT WINDING TECHNIQUES TO DECREASE VOID FORMATION DURING FABRICATION OF STRUCTURAL COMPOSITES. THIS STUDY WILL ENCOMPASS A REVIEW OF MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS OF AND SOLUTIONS TO AIR ENTRAPMENT, AND VOLATILE AND MOISTURE FORMATION THAT CAUSES VOIDS IN FIALMENT WOUND OR PULTRUDED PARTS. MRC WILL USE THIS INFORMATION TO DESIGN A RESIN BATH SUITABLE FOR FIBER/RESIN MATRICES AND ADDRESS THE MAJOR SOURCES OF AIR ENTRAPMENT. THE PHASE I EFFORT WILL INCLUDE CONSULTING FILAMENT WINDING EXPERTS TO HELP DEFINE THE CRITICAL BATH PARAMETERS. LABORATORY WOUND RINGS OF WET FIBERS WILL BE MADE AND TESTED FOR IMPROVED PROPERTIES. MATERIALS WILL BE SELECTED FOR EASE OF HANDLING AND END PRODUCT USE IN THE PHASE I EFFORT. A PORTABLE FIBER AND RESIN FEEDING SYSTEM FOR FILAMENT WINDING IN THE FIELD WILL BE PROPOSED WITH DEVELOPMENT OCCURRING DURING THE FOLLOW ON PHASE II PROGRAM.