Graphite-Fiber-Reinforced Glass for Spacecraft Applications

Abstract

A recent report [1] describes a program performed under National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) Langley sponsorship to establish the fabrication procedures and properties of a new graphite-fiber-reinforced composite for applications requiring exceptional stability over a wide range of temperatures and environments. The system, based on the use of a wide variety of graphite fibers to reinforce glass matrices, will help meet the increasing need for high-temperature, stable, low-density composites. It is a direct outgrowth of the well-developed technology of resin-matrix composites in that the matrix can be caused to flow and encapsulate the reinforcing fibers without damaging them. Also, as in the case of resin- and metal-matrix composites, the elastic modulus of the fibers exceeds that of the matrix enough to provide effective reinforcement. The development of the fabrication procedures and technology that led to these recent data can be traced through three interim technical reports [2–4] and several publications [5–7]. The current report summarizes the most important aspects of the work and describes the most recently developed composites and their properties.