Carbon-Carbon Composites in Improved Thermo-Oxidative Stability

Triton Systems responds to the Air Force need to produce intermediate temperature (700-1200¿F) stable carbon-carbon composites. Although such composites are very stable at high temperatures (>1800¿F) in an inert atmosphere, they are susceptible todegradation in hot, oxidizing environments. Triton proposes to utilize high temperature stable, resin transfer moldable (RTM, VARTM) phenyl ethynyl terminated imide materials with the incorporation of nanofillers, which will improve both the strength andthe thermo-oxidative stability of the resulting composite. Our research has already shown a significant increase of carbon yields as well as improved thermal stability of the resulting composites. We have also shown that the use of minute quantities ofour patented nanosilicates can be processed by standard molding techniques (RTM) that yield a highly dense composite. The materials and structures developed on this program will result in low-cost, lightweight, high strength carbon/carbon structures andmulti-functional components with long-term (thousands of hours) 700-1200¿F use capability The use of carbon-carbon composites in intermediate temperature, oxidative environments will find extensive use in various aerospace structural applications in whichonly metal (i.e. titanium) are currently suitable.