Research on sub‐micron measurement methods of M55J carbon fibre/cyanate ester composites

Abstract

In view of the axial dimensional stability of the main loaded cylinder of the space camera, the thermal expansion characteristics of the carbon fibre M55J/cyanate ester (CE) composite were studied. In this paper, the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of four kinds of carbon fibre composites used in aerospace are analysed and measured in both directions. The results show that the CTE of M55J/CE composite is negative, which cannot be achieved by carbon/epoxy composite. According to this characteristic, the layering mode of M55J/CE laminates was optimised, The CTE of M55J/CE laminates was analysed by the finite element method. Then the loaded cylinder was developed using the optimal ply program. Two different measuring methods, ‘Heating blanket/Three-coordinate measurement’ and ‘High–low temperature chamber/submicrometer displacement detector measurement method’ were proposed to measure the CTE of the loaded cylinder, and the advantages and disadvantages of the two measuring methods are also analysed. The test results were compared, which verified the credibility of the measurement method and data, The test results of ‘High–low temperature chamber/Submicrometer displacement detector measurement method’ were closer to the laminate, which laid the foundation for engineering applications.