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At least 73 records · Page 4

Laser Sintering of Thermoset Polyimide Composites

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is an additive manufacturing technique that builds 3D models layer by layer using a laser to selectively melt cross sections in powdered polymeric materials, following sequential slices of the CAD model. SLS generally uses thermoplastic polymeric powders, such as polyamides (i.e. Nylon), and the resultant 3D objects are often weaker in their strength compared to traditionally processed materials, due to the lack of polymer inter-chain connection in the z-direction. Our previous effort showed the challenges of printing a melt-processable RTM370 imide resin powder terminated with reactive 4-phenylethynylphthalic anhydride by LS, due to its inherently low viscosity of these oligomers. This paper presented the first successful 3D printing of high temperature carbon fiber filled thermoset polyimide composites, followed by post cure cycles to promote additional crosslinking for achieving higher temperature (Tg = 370 °C) capability. The processes to build tensile specimens and a component by LS, and the characterization of RTM370 imide resin by DSC and rheology as well as evaluation of the LS printed polyimide composite specimens by SEM and mechanical tests will be discussed.

Polyimide Composites↗

Insitu Lunar Launch & Landing Pad Construction w/ Regolith and Thermoset Polymers

This CIF project is an extension of materials developed under a previous NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) project titled “Regolith Derived Heat Shield for Planetary Body Entry and Descent Systems with In-Situ Fabrication” by M. Hogue et al. (2012). Launch and landing pads are necessary to mitigate risks to lander/ascent vehicles, surface assets, and orbital assets from rocket plume ejected regolith. At this time, all launching and landing on the lunar surface will be on unprepared surface sites. Though this has been a successful approach for Apollo and other uncrewed missions, significant risks exist for the Artemis Program due to the increased thrust of the vehicles, presence of co-located assets, and potential surface level requirements for tall vehicles. This project developed a thermoset polymer–regolith composite material for use as a launch and landing pad. Test articles were prepared at 20% and 11% polymer mass percent (wt%) and tested under hot fire conditions that simulated large vehicle lunar launch/landing conditions. A minimum polymer wt% of 9% was achieved and both samples successfully mitigated regolith ejecta from plume effects. A concept for emplacing launch/landing pads was successfully tested in laboratory environments using a screw and barrel approach to mixing, conveying and depositing materials. It is recommended that materials and systems be developed to TRL 6 for a small-scale lunar demonstration of emplacement of a launch/landing pad via a Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) mission to support the Artemis Program.

Nathan Gelino↗

Dynamic Crush Performance of Thermoplastic and Resin Infused Thermoset Triaxially Braided Composite Structures

Dynamic crush tests were conducted on triaxially braided composite tubes and C-channel structural elements to measure their relative energy absorbing characteristics. The elements were manufactured from triaxially braided [0/+60/-60] T700 fiber preforms with two different resin systems, a PR520 thermoset resin and a LM-PAEK thermoplastic resin. T700/PR520 composite tubes and C-channel elements were manufactured using a resin infusion process. T700GC/LMPAEK composite tubes were manufactured by braiding slit tape prepreg onto cylindrical mandrels. Consolidation pressure was applied through thermally activated shrink tape in an oven. The energy absorbing characteristics of the composite elements were measured using a pneumatically actuated sled with a flat-faced impacting mass, which provided several independent measurements of force, displacement, and energy absorption. The parameter primarily used for comparison between the systems was the specific energy absorption (SEA), a measure of energy absorbed per unit crushed length. The T700/LMPAEK tubes performed slightly better than T700/PR520 tubes, with an approximately 9% higher SEA. T700/PR520 tubes had over 20% higher SEA than C-channels made from the same material. Additional tests were conducted on tubes using a tapered-conical impactor to force the tubes to fail in circumferential tension. This type of impact significantly reduced the energy absorption.

Composite Materials↗

Dynamic Crush Performance of Thermoplastic and Resin Infused Thermoset Triaxially Braided Composite Structures

Dynamic crush tests were conducted on triaxially braided composite tubes and C-channel structural elements to measure their relative energy absorbing characteristics. The elements were manufactured from triaxially braided [0/+60/-60] T700 fiber preforms with two different resin systems, a PR520 thermoset resin and a LM-PAEK thermoplastic resin. T700/PR520 composite tubes and C-channel elements were manufactured using a resin infusion process. T700GC/LMPAEK composite tubes were manufactured by braiding slit tape prepreg onto cylindrical mandrels. Consolidation pressure was applied through thermally activated shrink tape in an oven. The energy absorbing characteristics of the composite elements were measured using a pneumatically actuated sled with a flat-faced impacting mass, which provided several independent measurements of force, displacement, and energy absorption. The parameter primarily used for comparison between the systems was the specific energy absorption (SEA), a measure of energy absorbed per unit crushed length. The T700/LMPAEK tubes performed slightly better than T700/PR520 tubes, with an approximately 9% higher SEA. T700/PR520 tubes had over 20% higher SEA than C-channels made from the same material. Additional tests were conducted on tubes using a tapered-conical impactor to force the tubes to fail in circumferential tension. This type of impact significantly reduced the energy absorption.

Composite Materials↗

Laser Sintering of RTM385-SLS Thermoset Polyimides With Boron Nitride

RTM385-SLS is a melt-processable thermoset polyimide resin specially formulated with a complex melt viscosity (ƞ*) of ~104-105 poise for laser sintering. RTM385-SLS resin powder was mixed with 20-25% of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and subjected to laser sintering (LS) to print out “Green” disks and dogbone specimens which could be further post-cured in an oven to complete the crosslinking of the reactive phenylethynyllphthalic anhydride (PEPA) terminal groups within the resin to achieve a very high glass transition temperature (T g ) of 385°C. The cured composite specimens were then subjected to thermal analysis, thermal conductivity measurement and mechanical testing for characterization.

Additive manufacturing↗

Manufacturing of Thermoset Polyimide Composites by Laser Sintering

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is an additive manufacturing technique that builds 3D models layer by layer using a laser to selectively melt cross sections in powdered polymeric materials, following sequential slices of the computer-aided design (CAD) model. SLS generally uses thermoplastic polymeric powders such as polyamides. The resultant 3D-printed objects are often weaker in their strength compared to traditionally processed materials, due to their higher porosity. This paper described the process development of using melt-processable imide oligomers terminated with reactive 4-phenylethynylphthalic anhydride (4-PEPA) to conduct laser sintering (LS). The first successful 3D-printing of high temperature RTM370 thermoset polyimide carbon fiber composites were further post-cured to promote additional crosslinking for achieving higher temperature (T g = 370°C) capability. Another novel imide oligomer, RTM385-SLS, formulated with a complex melt viscosity [ƞ*] of ~104-105 poise is also suitable for LS. RTM385-SLS resin powder was mixed with 20-25% of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and subjected to LS to print out “Green” specimens which could be further post-cured to afford a thermally conductive but electrically insulating composites with high T g of 385 °C. The cured composite specimens were then subjected to mechanical testing, thermal conductivity and porosity measurements as well as SEM characterization.

additive Manufacturing↗

New hyperthermal thermosetting heterocyclic polymers

Polyimidazopyrrolone polymers, formed by the condensation of aromatic dianhydrides with aromatic tetraamines in various solvents, form moldings that resist degradation in air and retain great strength at 400 to 700 degrees F. The resins have good insulating properties, are easy to mold, and make good protective coatings.

Bilow, N.↗

Monomers for thermosetting and toughening epoxy resins

Eight glycidyl amines were prepared by alkylating the parent amine with epichlorohydrin to form chlorohydrin, followed by cyclization with aqueous NaOH. Three of these compounds contained propargyl groups with postcuring studies. A procedure for quantitatively estimating the epoxy content of these glycidyl amines was employed for purity determination. Two diamond carbonates and several model propargly compounds were prepared. The synthesis of three new diamines, two which contain propargyloxy groups, and another with a sec-butyl group is in progress. These materials are at the dinitro stage ready for the final hydrogenation step. Four aromatic diamines were synthesized for mutagenic testing purposes. One of these compounds rapidly decomposes on exposure to air.

Pratt, J. R.↗

Improved Thermosetting Imide Resins

Modified resins have lower curing temperature. Imide monomers are chemically modified to lower cure temperature by 90 degrees, without compromising flame resistance of cured resins made from them.

Fohlen, G. M.↗

A theoretical study of resin flows for thermosetting materials during prepreg processing

A flow model which describes the process of resin consolidation during prepreg lamination was developed. The salient features of model predictions were explored. It is assumed that resin flows in all directions originate from squeezing action between two approaching adjacent fiber/fabric layers. In the horizontal direction, a squeezing flow between two nonporous parallel plates is analyzed, while in the vertical direction a poiseuille type pressure flow through porous media is assumed. Proper force and mass balance was established for the whole system which is composed of these two types of flow. A flow parameter, CF, shows to be a measure of processibility for the curing resin. For a given external load-F the responses of resin flow during prepreg lamination, as measured by CF, are categorized into three regions: (1) the low CF region where resin flows are inhibited by the high chemoviscosity during initial curing stages; (2) the median CF region where resin flows are properly controllable; and (3) the high CF region where resin flows are ceased due to fiber/fabric compression effects. Resin losses in both directions are calculated. Potential uses of this model and quality control of incoming prepreg material are discussed.

Hou, T. H.↗

Thermosetting Phthalocyanine Polymers

Group of phthalocyanine polymers resist thermal degradation. Polymers expected semiconducting. Principal applications probably in molded or laminated parts that have to withstand high temperatures. Polymers made from either of two classes of monomer: Bisphthalonitriles with imide linkages or Bisphthalonitriles with ester-imide linkages.

Fohlen, G.↗

Constituent Property - Composite Property Relationships in Thermoset Matrices

A procedure to effectively screen and evaluate resins for aerospace structures and advanced composites is described. The following conclusions were advanced: (1) laminate damage tolerance correlates positively with neat resin G sub IC; (2) TGDDM/DDS resins can be toughened; (3) using butadiene-nitrile rubbers, neat resin G sub IC and ultimate strain increase with increasing nitrile content, with the number of chemically reactive groups per molecule, and with increasing molecular weight; (4) better balance of properties combined with high G sub IC may be achieved by using tough glassy thermoplastics instead of rubbers to modify TGDDM/DDS resins; (5) both toughening mechanisms require good phase separation with an effective interphase; (6) the kind and the amount of thermoplastic modifier remain to be selected; and (7) presently only about a fourfold increase in G sub IC was achieved, whereas a forty fold increase is sought; modification of the matrix backbone and of crosslinking is required.

Diamant, J.↗

Free Volume Considerations in Thermoplastic and Thermosetting Resins

The direct measurement of physical aging and of the volume changes which go on during the course of this aging is discussed. Data on PMMA showing its physical aging as measured by its stress relaxation response and the accompanying volume changes are presented. An indication of how one can measure the free volume both directly from the volume change itself and relatively directly via a new technique is given. The application of this new technique (electron spin resonance spectroscopy) to other polymer systems is demonstrated.

Landel, R. F.↗