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Materials and Coatings
https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/armd/aavp/hicam/
Advanced Isothermally Produced Next-Gen Composites
Next generation aircraft are anticipated to be largely made with composite components, requiring significant increases in manufacturing rates of composites to meet the demand for a new fleet of aircraft. The higher rate manufacturing will require multiple advances, including rapid curing and lower processing temperatures. These requirements can be enabled by new processing methods such as isothermal rapidly cured composite parts. NASA has developed materials and methods that meet those stringent requirements for high-rate manufacturing. The innovators have demonstrated at least two families of new resin formulations that meet the expected high-rate manufacturing needs. These new formulations have been engineered to be infused and cured at the same (i.e., isothermal) temperature, below that of commercially available materials. The materials can then be removed from the mold while still hot without distorting the shape, thereby reducing the processing times by eliminating the need for cooling to occur in the mold. After a post-cure process - which takes 4 hours or less and can be performed in batches - the mechanical properties of NASA's next-gen composites. The related patent is now available to license. Please note that NASA does not manufacturer products itself for commercial sale.
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