High performance structural laminate composite material for use to 1000° F. and above, apparatus for and method of manufacturing same, and articles made with same
US6521296B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 14, 1998 |
| Grant date | Feb 18, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 19, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/249986
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A novel materials technology has been developed and demonstrated for providing a high modulus composite material for use to 1000° F. and above. This material can be produced at 5-20% of the cost of refractory materials, and has higher structural properties. This technology successfully resolves the problem of “thermal shock” or “ply lift,” which limits traditional high temperature laminates (such as graphite/polyimide and graphite/phenolic) to temperatures of 550-650° F. in thicker (0.25″ and above) laminates. The technology disclosed herein is an enabling technology for the nose for the External Tank (ET) of the Space Shuttle, and has been shown to be capable of withstanding the severe environments encountered by the nose cone through wind tunnel testing, high temperature subcomponent testing, and full scale structural, dynamic, acoustic, and damage tolerance testing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.