In addition to cryotank composite structures, many composite applications and designs will benefit from the high toughness, low cure shrinkage, and low CTE of the matrix technology developed in this research. Commercial composite applications that have been limited by current matrix technology can be found in space, aerospace, and airplane structures. Specific applications that may benefit from the low CTE include high precision antennas, reflector components, and precision optical devices. The high toughness of these matrices will enable more damage tolerant composite for commercial aircraft structures, engine components such as fan blades and core cowls, and ballisitic applications. Also, this technology will enable stitched and advanced multiaxial preforms to be utilized in many new applications that have been limited before by microcracking. Film adhesives for advanced structural bonding and composite cocure applications will also benefit from this technology.
The technology developed in this research program will enable the development of lower weight cryotanks for NASA launch vehicles. The microcrack resistant composite cryotanks will also provide reduced hydrogen permeability over that of traditional composite materials and enable the development of linerless composite pressure vessels. Applications that would benefit from this technology include EDS propellant tanks, Altair propellant tanks, lunar cryogenic storage tanks, Ares V tanks, and composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPV's). In addition to the utilization of these materials for cryotanks, other space and aerospace applications may be found which require highly tough, low CTE composite matrices such as space and aerospace structures.
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