Understanding the behavior of carbon fiber reinforced composites in extreme thermal cycling space environment and development of conductive structural adhesive for same

本研究方案有两个目的：一是了解复合材料结构在空间环境中的极限热循环疲劳失效机理。第二个目标是开发在保持良好粘接强度的同时表现出良好导电性的结构胶粘剂。该项目将包括三个方面。一种是制造两种形式的层压板：实心层压板和夹层压板。第二，在保持良好粘接强度的同时，开发高导电性的结构胶粘剂。第三，模拟空间环境，对使用该结构胶粘剂的实心层合板和夹层层合板进行热循环疲劳试验。将观察由于这种热载荷而产生的裂纹的发展。将制定导致这些裂缝发展的机制。第四，也是最后一点，是模型的发展，这些模型为预测受载荷环境影响的复合材料结构的寿命提供指导方针，或为延长结构的寿命而设计。通过开发具有更强的抗裂性的新树脂来尝试解决裂纹问题。这将通过添加纳米颗粒来实现。这一研究成果将在空间卫星复合材料结构中得到应用。它们还可应用于飞机或其他承受极端高温循环环境的设备中使用的复合材料结构。

This research proposal has two objectives: One is to obtain an understanding for the failure mechanism of composite structures used in extreme thermal cycling fatigue due to exposure to space environment. The second objective is to develop structural adhesives that exhibit good electrical conductivity while maintaining good bond strength. The project will consist of three aspects. One is the manufacturing of laminates in both forms: solid laminates and sandwiched laminates. Secondly structural adhesives with high electrical conductivity while maintaining good bond strength will be developed. Third the solid laminates and sandwiched laminates using the structural adhesives will be tested in thermal cycling fatigue, simulating the space environment. The development of cracks due to this thermal loading will be observed. Mechanism responsible for the development of these cracks will be formulated. Fourth and last is the development of models that provide guidelines for either predicting the life of the composite structures subject to the loading environment, or to design to prolong the life of the structure. Solution to the crack problem will be attempted by the development of new resins with enhanced crack resistance. This will be done by the addition of nanoparticles. The results of this investigation will have applications for composite structures used in satellite in space. They also have applications for composite structures used in aircraft or other equipment that are subjected to extreme thermal cycling environment.