Hollow composite body having an axis of symmetry
First Claim
1. A method of forming a hollow carbon/carbon composite article around an axis of symmetry, said method comprising the steps of:
- shaping a surface of a heat refractory mandrel to the desired inner surface configuration and tolerances of said article;
covering said surface of said mandrel with one or more plies of thermally stable carbon filaments having diameters of substantially not greater than about 6 microns and a modulus of elasticity of substantially not less than about 45×
106 psi;
impregnating said plies with a carbonizable impregnant while on said mandrel; and
heat treating the assembly of said impregnated plies so as to carbonize said impregnant. said surface and said assembly being releasable intact from one another.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method of forming a hollow, carbon/carbon composite article around an axis of symmetry, in which method a heat refractory mandrel is shaped to provide a desired inner surface configuration and tolerances of the article, and one or more plies of thermally stable carbon filaments are braided over the surface of the mandrel. The filaments have a diameter of substantially not greater than about 6 microns and a modulus of elasticity of substantially not less than about 45×106 psi. The plies are then impregnated with a carbonizable liquid impregnant, and the assembly of impregnated plies and mandrel is heat treated so as to carbonize the impregnant. The resulting composite article has a high translation of the original strength of the filaments and has an inner surface defined by the outer surface of the mandrel.
71 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method of forming a hollow carbon/carbon composite article around an axis of symmetry, said method comprising the steps of:
-
shaping a surface of a heat refractory mandrel to the desired inner surface configuration and tolerances of said article; covering said surface of said mandrel with one or more plies of thermally stable carbon filaments having diameters of substantially not greater than about 6 microns and a modulus of elasticity of substantially not less than about 45×
106 psi;impregnating said plies with a carbonizable impregnant while on said mandrel; and heat treating the assembly of said impregnated plies so as to carbonize said impregnant. said surface and said assembly being releasable intact from one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A hollow, composite carbon/carbon article having an axis of symmetry, said article comprising:
-
a plurality of successive plies of carbon filaments embedded in a carbonized matrix, said filaments being heat stabilized, having a diameter of less than about 6 microns and having a modulus of elasticity of substantially not less than 45×
106 psi;the inner surface of said article being established by the surface of a mandrel on which said plies were originally placed. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification