SBIR Phase I: Lightweight Composites for Aerospace Applications

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will test the feasibility of making light weight and high modulus polymer composite materials, suitable for the aerospace environment through incorporating unique high modulus polypropylene fiber into fabrics containing carbon fiber in hybrid composites. The demands on composites used in today's aerospace applications are significant, and include 1) solvent resistance, 2) thermal cycling durability, 3) the ability to survive ultraviolet exposure, in addition to light weight, superior modulus and strength. While solvent resistance and UV exposure resistance are known to be good for polypropylene fibers, the thermal cycling durability is expected to pose significant technical hurdles which will have to be overcome in order to take advantage of the physical properties that are possible by making hybrids of these two performance fibers. The research performed under this SBIR will address this issue by making a resin-compatible high-modulus polypropylene yarn that can be woven with carbon into hybrid structures with low weight, high modulus, good impact resistance, in addition to meeting the other demands of the aerospace industry.