CarboSpaceCarbon Nanotube Enhanced Polymer

Composite Materials for Space Applications

Project Data

Project Management

Astrium GmbH, DDr. Hans Georg Wulz

Project Partners

FutureCarbon GmbH, INVENT GmbH,

DLR Braunschweig and HPS GmbH

Project Duration 3 yrs, start: February 2009, end: April 2012

Project Objectives

Improvement of properties of composite materials for

aerospace application by incorporation of CNTs. Development

of CNT-modified carbon fiber reinforced composite materials

(CNT-CFRPs, “nano composites”) based upon thermoset

materials, a) CNT-epoxy LY556 (max. service temp. 150°C)

and b) CNT-cyanate ester PT-30 (max. temp. 250°C), with

improved material properties to enable very light-weight

construction and long-life operation

Results: CNT-Composite Material

Development, Achieved Improvement

Two types of CNT-Thermoset Composite Materials

A) Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Material

(CFRP) based upon CNT-Epoxy LY556, max. service

temperature: 150°C

B) Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Material

based upon CNT-Cyanatester PT-30, max. service

temperature: 250°C

CNT- Epoxy LY556 CFRP

Improvements of material properties achieved (verified by

tests at RT and at 100°C) by dispersion of 0,5 w% of

functionalized CNTs:

ILSS by > 50%, Toughness by > 30%, Strain at Break by

~ 100%, Fatigue by > 100 %

Manufacturing process applied: Production of UD-prepregs by

fiber winding and application of CNT-epoxy resin, lay-up of

UD-prepregs (plane laminate) or winding of cylindrical objects;

struts; modified curing cycle.

Diversification, Spin-off

Application of improved CNT-CFRPs for the production of

enhanced products with improved strength, reduced mass

(extreme lightweight construction), toughness and long life for

future aeronautics and automotive, transport, clean/green

energy production and storage.

struts; modified curing cycle.

Results of CNTs with “small aspect ratio” (“Short CNTs”):

Chopped CNTs (by ball milling) result in less increase of

viscosity than that of CNTs as produced. Improvement of

fabrication of CFRP structures, in particular, facilitation of resin

application/injection.

CNT- Cyanate Ester PT-30 CFRP

Improvements achieved of material characteristics (verified by

tests at RT and at 300°C) by dispersion of 0,5 w% of

functionalized CNTs:

ILSS and strain at break by 50% at temperature limit of

about 250°C, fatigue by tbd % (test planned)

Manufacturing process applied: Preparation of prepregs by

application of an industrial process of infiltration of carbon

fabric by modified CNT-cyanate ester resin PT-30;

Manufacture of test laminates and test bodies by lamination

technique with prepregs; modified curing cycle.

Potential Field of Application of Carbon Fiber Reinforced CNT-Thermoset

Composite Materials in Spacecrafts. Picture: Telecom Satellite, Astrium Corporate

Improved material properties demonstrated on material system HTA/epoxy

LY556 modified by dispersion of 0,5 w% functionalized carbon nanotubes

Pictures with courtesy of: Hyun Dae Kim, NASA Glenn Research Center,

Distributed Propulsion Vehicles, 27th International Congress of the Aeronautical

Sciences, Nice, 2010