Carbon-Carbon Composites Fabrication

Sioux Manufacturing Corporation will develop a novel processing method for carbon-carbon composites manufacture with reduced processing time and costs. Current carbon deposition processes are unacceptably slow and expensive. The new feature of our process is the deposition of iron oxide onto the carbon filters to catalyze the deposition of carbon from methane. Laboratory tests have shown that this unique catalyst doubles the rate of deposition of carbon. Phase I will confirm that the catalytic effect will extend from short term laboratory tests to the deposition of sufficient carbon to form a complete composite material. Phase II will develop optimal process conditions. Applications include: hypersonic flight vehicles, airframe thermal protection materials, rocket nozzles and nosecones, and aircraft brakes.