Composite Materials

This product addresses the design limitations caused by delamination in carbon fiber composite structures. It employs vertically aligned milled carbon fibers that span the interlaminar region, effectively connecting neighboring composite plies. The product can be utilized as a local reinforcement to selectively toughen specific regions without disrupting the overall structure or as a global reinforcement, applied between every ply.

One key application is enhancing composite structures with sharp bend radii or terminations, such as stringers, stiffeners, and pi-joints. These structures often suffer from interlaminar failure due to the low fracture toughness and poor out-of-plane mechanical properties of conventional composite reinforcements. Such performance deficiencies limit the use of lightweight composites in next-generation airframes, compelling developers to rely on heavy and costly metallic structures.

Another critical application is improving high-temperature composite structures, like high-speed spacecraft heatshields. Interlaminar failure in these ceramic matrix and carbon-carbon composites is driven by immense internal stresses and volume shrinkage during fabrication. Traditional solutions, like three-dimensional weaving and fiber placement techniques, are costly and create continuous fiber pathways that transfer ambient heat into the airframe during atmospheric re-entry. This product offers a more cost-effective and efficient alternative, enhancing the durability and performance of high-temperature composite structures.