Novel Advanced Hypersonic Thermal Protection Composite Produced by AM

Our Phase II program will build on our Phase I program, which was focused on developing both carbon fiber-based epoxy inks for additive manufacturing and phthalonitrile (PN) processing methods, as well as combining these materials into cohesive composite systems. The resulting carbon fiber-PN composites were found to have very promising mechanical properties along with low thermal conductivity and ablation rates. Having successfully demonstrated our technical approach, Phase II will focus on further advancing our PN-based compositions to improve their properties and develop manufacturing techniques to produce prototypes which will be characterized and compared with existing thermal protection systems (TPS). These experimental tasks will be complemented with advanced modeling and simulations (M&S) to facilitate the transition of these novel materials in hypersonic or high heat flux applications. Given the technical maturity of our materials and the experience of our team, we expect multiple commercial transition opportunities at the outset of the Phase II.