New composites material for space applications

近年来，复合材料方面取得了重大进展，包括增韧树脂、高模纤维和纳米化学品的使用。北美航天工业多年来一直在使用氰酸酯树脂进行应用。氰酸酯树脂作为复合基质具有高热稳定性、低放气性、低吸水率和耐辐射等优点。在过去的几年里，树脂供应商已经开发出了可以用于空间应用的新体系，如改性环氧树脂、苯并恶嗪或BMI。这些树脂系统现在被认为具有更好、更可靠的性能。此外，在树脂体系中使用纳米化学物质可能会改善最终复合材料的导电性或横向导热性和结构强度。有鉴于此，本项目的目标是研究这些新的树脂体系，并评估它们在制造空间应用的纤维增强复合材料结构方面的适用性。该项目将涉及对适用于空间应用的新纤维和树脂系统进行彻底审查。此外，当局亦会检讨可能采用的核心材料，以改善夹层板的性能。目标制造方法将是非高压灭菌法，必须生产具有高度尺寸稳定性的复合材料。材料的加工性将使用仪表化固化夹具和工艺建模相结合的方法进行研究。热机械性能将通过标准表征试验和空间条件模拟器进行研究。简单代表性层合板(如薄板、厚板、蜂窝夹层、斜角支架和管子)的制造将证明所选材料在空间应用中的适用性。将与工业伙伴合作开发一阶成本分析模型。该项目是第六轮CRIAQ(魁北克航空航天研究与创新联盟)的一部分，涉及两所大学，麦吉尔大学，康科迪亚大学和两个工业合作伙伴，丙二醛公司(MDA)和复合材料大西洋有限公司(CAL)。

In recent years, significant advancements have been made in composite materials including toughened resins, high modulus fibres and the use of nanochemicals. The North American space industry has been using cyanate ester resin for many years for their applications. Cyanate ester resins offer advantages as composite matrices because of their high thermal stability, low outgassing, low water absorption, and radiation resistance. During the last years, resin suppliers have developed new systems such as modified epoxy, benzoxazine or BMI that could be used for space applications. These resin systems are now believed to achieve better and more reliable properties. Furthermore, the use of nanochemicals in the resin system could potentially improve the electrical conductivity, or transverse thermal conductivity and structural strength of the final composite material. In light of the above, the objective of this project is to investigate these new resin systems and assess their suitability for the manufacturing of fibre reinforced composite structures for space applications. The project will involve a thorough review of the appropriate new fibres and resin systems for space applications. A review of the possible core materials will also be carried out to improve sandwich panel performance. The target manufacturing method will be out-of-autoclave and must produce composites with a high level of dimensional stability. The processability of the materials will be investigated using a combination of instrumented curing fixtures and process modelling. The thermo-mechanical performance will be investigated by standard characterization tests and space conditions simulators. The manufacturing of simple representative laminates (e.g. thin plates, thick plates, honeycomb sandwiches, angled brackets and tubes) will demonstrate the applicability of the selected material for space applications. A first order cost analysis model will be developed in collaboration with the industrial partners. This project is part of the sixth round of the CRIAQ (Consortium for Research and Innovation in Aerospace in Quebec) and involves two universities, McGill University, Concordia University and two industrial partners, MDA Corporation (MDA) and Composites Atlantic Ltd (CAL).