Toughened Resin Fiber Laminates with Titanium Particles

• US 20110171474A1
• Filed: 03/28/2011
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Gammon, Luther M., Lemery, Steven G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,057,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/414
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 2003/0881 Titanium
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/04 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/08 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 7/06 Elements
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 63/00 Compositions of epoxy resins; Compositions of derivatives of epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24405 Polymer or resin [e.g., natural or synthetic rubber, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249928 Fiber embedded in a ceramic, glass, or carbon matrix
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249939 Two or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24994 Fiber embedded in or on the surface of a polymeric matrix
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2998 including synthetic resin or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31515 As intermediate layer

Abstract

A composite structure includes at least one resin matrix layer having a resin material and a plurality of fiber elements and a plurality of titanium particles provided in the resin material. A method of toughening a resin matrix layer is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A composite structure, comprising:

at least one resin matrix layer having a resin material and a plurality of fiber elements and a plurality of titanium particles provided in said resin material.

2. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein said resin material comprises epoxy.

3. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein said plurality of fiber elements comprises carbon fiber prepreg.

4. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein said plurality of titanium particles comprises a plurality of graded titanium sponge particles.

5. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein said plurality of titanium particles is present in said at least one resin matrix layer in a quantity of from about 0.3% to about 30% by volume.

6. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of titanium particles has a diameter of from about 1 micron to about 90 microns.

7. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein said plurality of titanium particles is uniformly dispersed throughout said resin material.

8. A composite structure, comprising:

a first fiber layer having a first set of fiber elements;

a second fiber layer having a second layer of fiber elements;

a resin matrix interlayer having a resin material interposed between said first fiber layer and said second fiber layer;

a plurality of fiber elements provided in said resin material of said resin matrix interlayer; and

a plurality of titanium particles provided in said resin material of said resin matrix interlayer.

9. The composite structure of claim 8 wherein said resin material comprises epoxy.

10. The composite structure of claim 8 wherein said plurality of fiber elements comprises carbon fiber prepreg.

11. The composite structure of claim 8 wherein said plurality of titanium particles comprises a plurality of graded titanium sponge particles.

12. The composite structure of claim 8 wherein said plurality of titanium particles is present in said at least one resin matrix layer in a quantity of from about 0.3% to about 30% by volume.

13. The composite structure of claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of titanium particles has a diameter of from about 1 micron to about 90 microns.

14. The composite structure of claim 8 wherein said plurality of titanium particles is uniformly dispersed throughout said resin material.

15. The composite structure of claim 8 wherein said plurality of fiber elements of said resin matrix interlayer is oriented in generally perpendicular relationship with respect to said first set of fiber elements of said first fiber layer and said second set of fiber elements of said second fiber layer.

16-20. -20. (canceled)