Abstract:
A method for chemical vapor deposition on a substrate is disclosed. The method may include directing a process gas into a reaction chamber, and heating the process gas in the reaction chamber. Heating the process gas in the reaction chamber may decompose the process gas to thereby generate a plurality of decomposition products. The method may also include applying one or more biasing fields and/or waves to the process gas upstream of the substrate, and reacting the process gas with the substrate. The one or more biasing fields and/or waves may include electromagnetic waves, electric fields, and/or magnetic fields. The biasing fields and/or waves may urge at least a portion of the process gas towards or away from the substrate.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for enhancement of vacuum bagging processes for a composite part. One system includes dispensers configured to dispense materials onto a forming tool for a composite part, and a controller. The controller is able to identify a selected location for placing the composite part on the tool, to direct the dispensers to apply a mold release agent onto the tool based on the selected location, to apply a sealant onto the tool proximate to the selected location, to lay up a ply of constituent material for the composite part atop the mold release agent at the selected location, to apply a pressure pad material atop the constituent material, to apply a breather material atop the pressure pad, and to apply vacuum bag material atop the ply proximate to the selected location to cover the ply as well as the sealant.
Abstract:
Composite materials are augmented with functionalized graphene having added amine groups, benzoxazine groups, imide groups, or a combination of amine groups and imide groups on a surface of the graphene, epoxide groups formed on at least one edge of the graphene and/or holes formed through the graphene. The functionalized graphene is integrated into a composite material as a supplement to or as a replacement for either the carbon reinforcement material or the resin matrix material to increase strength of the composite materials, and may be in the form of a functionalized graphene nanoplatelet, a flat graphene sheet or film, or a rolled or twisted graphene sheet or film.
Abstract:
A deployable airborne sensor array system and method of use are provided herein. The system includes a tether configured to be coupled to and deployed from an aircraft and a plurality of airborne vehicles coupled to the tether. Each of the plurality of airborne vehicles includes different lift characteristics to form a three-dimensional (3D) array of airborne vehicles. Each airborne vehicle includes a sensing device configured to generate sensor data associated with a target. The system also include a computing device configured to process the sensor data received from each of said plurality of airborne vehicles and generate an image of the target based on the sensor data.
Abstract:
A method and structure for an electrical device and a plurality of electrical circuits including a plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The method can include forming a first CNT catalyst layer including a plurality of first CNT catalyst plugs, a plurality of electrical circuits electrically coupled to the first CNT catalyst layer, and a second CNT catalyst layer including a plurality of second CNT catalyst plugs electrically coupled to the second CNT catalyst layer. CNTs may be simultaneously formed on the plurality of first and second CNT catalyst plugs within a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) furnace.
Abstract:
Composite materials with graphene-augmented carbon reinforcement fibers having a graphene film wrapped about one or more carbon fiber filaments. The graphene film is wrapped about the carbon fiber filaments in a spiral orientation and has amine groups formed on an outer surface of the graphene film and epoxide groups formed on at least one edge of the graphene film. The amine groups are formed in a functionalized area on the outer surface of the graphene film that is within about 10 microns from the at least one edge of the graphene film. The graphene film may also have holes formed through the graphene film. The graphene film may be wrapped around a single carbon fiber filament, a substantially cylindrical bundle of about 19 carbon fiber filaments, or a substantially rectangular bed of carbon fiber filaments formed from a plurality of carbon fiber tows.
Abstract:
Composite materials with graphene-augmented carbon reinforcement fibers having a graphene film wrapped about one or more carbon fiber filaments. The graphene film is wrapped about the carbon fiber filaments in a spiral orientation and has amine groups formed on an outer surface of the graphene film and epoxide groups formed on at least one edge of the graphene film. The amine groups are formed in a functionalized area on the outer surface of the graphene film that is within about 10 microns from the at least one edge of the graphene film. The graphene film may also have holes formed through the graphene film. The graphene film may be wrapped around a single carbon fiber filament, a substantially cylindrical bundle of about 19 carbon fiber filaments, or a substantially rectangular bed of carbon fiber filaments formed from a plurality of carbon fiber tows.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a composite material may include providing one or more layers of reinforcement material penetrated with viscous matrix material that is doped with electrically conductive particles. The method may further include applying a magnetic field to arrange the particles into one or more electrically conductive pathways, and curing the matrix material to secure the pathways in position relative to the reinforcement material.
Abstract:
A system for use in producing a nanotube mesh structure is provided. The system includes a first nanotube collection apparatus including a first substrate configured to collect a plurality of nanotubes substantially aligned in a first orientation on an attachment surface thereof, and a second nanotube collection apparatus including a second substrate configured to collect a plurality of nanotubes substantially aligned in a second orientation on an attachment surface thereof. The first and second nanotube collection apparatuses are configured to combine the pluralities of nanotubes at an interface. The system also includes a first energy source configured to direct energy towards the interface between the pluralities of nanotubes, wherein the energy is configured to join the pluralities of nanotubes to form the nanotube mesh structure.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for fabrication of enhanced carbon fiber laminates that utilize encapsulated catalyst. One embodiment is a method that includes acquiring a batch of dry fibers, and acquiring a batch of catalyst capsules that each comprise catalyst that accelerates polymerization of monomers of a resin, and a shell that encapsulates the catalyst and liquefies at a curing temperature. The method further includes interspersing the catalyst capsules among the dry fibers, and impregnating the fibers with the resin after interspersing the catalyst capsules with the fibers.