MATERIALS RESEARCH & DESIGN INC — National Aeronautics and Space Administration SBIR Phase I: H5

Description

In the proposed program, MRamp;D seeks to demonstrate the manufacturability of domestically available, needled Lyocell based Carbon-Carbon (C/C) materials for use in nozzle extension (NE) and exit cone applications. This will be accomplished though a design and analysis trade study, coupled with the fabrication and testing of nozzle extension subcomponent, ultimately improving the Technical Readiness Level (TRL) of needled Lyocell C/C, advancing the State of the Art (SOA) in domestically available C/C.In the past decade, a number of NASA projects have been aimed at improving the capability and readiness of domestically available C-C for use as a viable candidate for a nozzle extension. Currently, the SOA in use on various launch vehicles is comprised of high temperature (up to 2100deg;F) capable, nickel based alloys and foreign made C/C composites.nbsp;Lyocell-based carbon cloth composites continue to be a leading candidate in the quest for a domestically available C/C material. Fabrication of carbonized cloth using Lyocell fiber involves only U.S. suppliers.nbsp; nbsp;Lyocell fiber is an environmentally-friendly fiber that produces no harmful byproducts, and whose main ingredient (cellulose) is readily obtained from managed tree farms.nbsp; Carbonized Lyocell fabric has the same carbon yield and fabric strengths as historic rayon-based materials.nbsp;In the proposed program, MRamp;D aims to demonstrate that combining the inherently desirable properties of the Lyocell carbon fiber (i.e. ldquo;highrdquo; CTE, low modulus of elasticity) with a needling process results in a domestically available C/C NE and exit cone material that has attractive properties for joining the composite to metallic engine components.nbsp; This will be accomplished though a design and analysis trade study, coupled with the fabrication and testing of nozzle extension subcomponent.