PROCESSED VAPOR GROWN GRAPHITE FIBERS FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC RAILGUNS

REQUIREMENTS FOR RAILGUN ARMATURES DICTATE MATERIALS PROPERTIES VALUESWHICH ARE DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN FROM CONVENTIONAL MATERIALS. THE NEED EXISTS FOR A MATERIAL WHICH HAS LOW DENSITY, HIGH MELTING POINT, HIGH THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY, LOW COEFFICIENT OF THERMAL EXPANSION, HIGH ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY, HIGH VALUES FOR STRENGTH, AND GOOD CHARACTERISTICS OF LUBRICITY. GRAPHITE FIBER GROWN FROM PYROLYSIS OF HYDROCARBON GAS, WHICH IS THEN PROCESSED TO YIELD USEFUL VALUES FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY, IS A MATERIAL HAVING ATTRACTIVE PROPERTIES. DEVELOPMENT OF PROCESSED VAPOR GROWN GRAPHITE FIBERS HAVING THE REQUISITE VALUES OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY AND OTHER MATERIALS PROPERTIES IS BEING INVESTIGATED. FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING THIS MATERIAL IS BEING DEMONSTRATED AND CRITERIA FOR MANUFACTURING SCALE-UPOF THIS NOVEL MATERIAL WOULD BE EXPLORED IN A LATER PHASE. THIS MATERIAL WILL HAVE APPLICATIONS IN CHOPPED FIBER CARBON COMPOSITES INCLUDING PLASTIC, CERAMIC, CEMENT AND METAL MATRICES, WHEREIN EXTREMEVALUES OF MATERIALS PROPERTIES ARE REQUIRED FOR DESIGN OF HIGH PERFORMANCE DEVICES AND SYSTEMS FOR SPACE AND AEROSPACE APPLICATIONS, INDUSTRY, MEDICINE AND SPORTS.