New composites material for space applications

近年来，复合材料取得了重大进展，包括增韧树脂、高模量纤维和纳米化学品的使用。北美航天工业多年来一直使用氰酸酯树脂。氰酸酯树脂由于其高热稳定性、低释气、低吸水性和耐辐射性而提供作为复合基质的优点。在过去的几年里，树脂供应商开发了新的系统，如改性环氧树脂，苯并恶嗪或BMI，可用于空间应用。现在认为这些树脂体系具有更好和更可靠的性能。此外，在树脂系统中使用纳米化学品可以潜在地改善最终复合材料的导电性或横向导热性和结构强度。鉴于上述情况，本项目的目标是研究这些新的树脂系统，并评估它们是否适合于制造空间应用的纤维增强复合材料结构。该项目将涉及对空间应用的适当新纤维和树脂系统进行彻底审查。还将对可能的芯材进行审查，以提高夹层板的性能。目标制造方法将是高压釜外的，并且必须生产具有高水平尺寸稳定性的复合材料。将使用仪器化固化夹具和工艺建模的组合来研究材料的可加工性。热机械性能将通过标准表征测试和空间条件模拟器进行研究。制造简单的代表性层压板（例如薄板、厚板、蜂窝夹层、角支架和管）将证明所选材料对空间应用的适用性。将与工业伙伴合作开发第一级成本分析模型。该项目是CRIAQ（魁北克航空航天研究与创新联盟）第六轮的一部分，涉及两所大学，麦吉尔大学，康考迪亚大学和两个工业合作伙伴，MDA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).