Title: UHT Carbon Based Materials for Use in Solar Interstellar Space Missions

Authors: Dr. John Garnier, Trever Plastow, Joel Davis, Ken Koller

DOI: 10.33599/nasampe/c.22.0184

Abstract: The chemical-thermal-mechanical properties of PAN based carbon fibers are attractive as a reinforcement in composites for aerospace and commercial applications. Advanced Ceramic Fibers (ACF) has developed unique forms of carbon fibers that have the potential to extend carbon’s use to temperature above 2273 K in vacuum. Through a unique patented process, a controlled outer portion of each individual carbon ( C) filament in a fiber tow is converted to a metal carbide (MC) while maintaining properties of the starting carbon fiber. For example, a silicon carbide (SiC) conversion layer into the carbon core provides an oxidation barrier, corrosion resistance barrier and a high hardness layer to inhibit fretting between fiber filaments under loading while keeping the weight of the fiber in range of 1.9 to 2.2 gm/cc. We will report on ultra-high temperature materials stability studies at ACF supported by John Hopkins University. These studies support NASA’s interest in future Interstellar space probe missions that use the Sun’s gravity and heat as a potential propulsion source. Comparative MC/Carbon fiber stability testing against pure carbon fibers demonstrates the effectiveness of the MC conversion layer to extends the utility range of carbon in vacuum by inhibiting carbon evaporation at very high temperatures. This paper describes attributes of the MC/Carbon fibers including fiber high temperature. SEM analysis results will also be presented.

References: [1] Patent Filing: assigned to ACF, LLC: “Methods of Producing Silicon Carbide Fibers, and Articles including same”, Inventors: J. Garnier and G. Griffith and ""Methods of Producing Metal Carbide Fibers”, USP 8,940,391 [2] S. B. Lasday, “Alpha Silicon Carbide Properties Advantageous for Automotive Water Pump Seal Faces Produced at New Facility in W. Germany,” Ind. Heat., Vol 35-39, Aug. (1990). [3] Lance L. Snead, Takashi Nozawa, Yutai Katoh, et al, “Handbook of SiC properties for fuel performance modeling,” J. Nucl. Mater. 371 (2007) 329-377. [4] Advances in Silicon Carbide Processing and Applications, Stephen E. Saddow and Anant Agarwhal, Eds., Artech House, Inc., Norwood, MA (2004), p. 8. [5] K. Goto, et al, “Tensile Strength and Creep Behavior of Carbon-Carbon Composites at Elevated Temperatures. Al, presented at the 16th International Conference on Composite Materials. [6] Hannan Mason; “Researchers work to prove out ultra-high-temperature CMC for NASA Interstellar Probe study”; Composite World, Published 7/13/2021

Conference: CAMX 2022

Publication Date: 2022/10/17

SKU: TP22-0000000184

Pages: 5

Price: $10.00