Nanocomposites for Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites (CPMC) are high performance materials used in aerospace/aircraft structures, advance marine vessels, and other applications. These materials are based on multifunctional epoxy, BMI, cyanate esters, andpolyimides. Improvements in CPMC properties are desirable for more demanding applications. Enhanced improvement of epoxy resins in temperature performance, mechanical properties, damage resistance, environment corrosion resistance, and dimensionalcontrol will be obtained by developing a nanophase within the epoxy resin and then combining with carbon fiber to form nanocomposite CPMC.The KAI/Texas A&M University team with Cytec Engineered Materials proposes to examine three nanoparticles: surface modified montmorillonite clay, amino surface modified carbon nanofibers, and surface modified nanosilica. High shear processing will be usedto uniformly disperse the nanoparticles into each of the epoxy resin components: epoxy resin, hardener, and toughening agent. Wide angle X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy will be used to determine thedegree of dispersion of these nanoparticles in the epoxy components and in the final cured epoxy system. Anticipated viscosity increases due to the addition of nanoparticles will be alleviated by using low viscosity reactive diluents functioning ascoupling agents (tethering agents), or volatile solvent which is removed during fabric impregnation. 1) Improved heat resistance and high strength of the newly developed nano modified CPMC for extreme performance demands of military aircraft with stealth capabilities.2) Higher strength, higher heat resistant, damage tolerant epoxy system that has excellent hot wet strength with overall properties approaching BMI resins.3) Robust processing of the newly developed nano modified CPMC materials using filament winding/fiber placement, RTM, prepreg, and hand lay up/autoclave cure.4) Favorable economics of the nano modified CPMC as compared to other high heat resistant resins such as BMI, cyanate esters, and polyimides.