NASA seeks to transfer the NASA-developed method of fabricating composite structures. This system, developed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), involves the fabrication of high strength-low weight laminated structures. It has been demonstrated that significant weight and cost savings can be attained over aluminum and steel alloys in structures incorporating advanced composite materials. Fifteen to forty percent weight savings have been generated in aerospace and aircraft components. Five to twenty five percent cost savings have been recorded in production programs. These benefits are attributed to high-strength, high-stiffness fibers in a-low density matrix, both metallic and nonmetallic, which can be formed to address maximum load conditions.

Potential Commercial Uses

This improved method of fabricating composite structures can be used to produce products needing the high strength-to-weight ratios available from composite structures. Potential commercial users include aerospace manufacturing, automobile manufacturing, and other industrial applications.

Benefits

The new fabrication process developed by MSFC allows the efficient production of composite structures without the use of expensive autoclaves. In addition, this process permits the fabrication of large composite structures.

The Technology

Difficulties in processing composite materials have been experienced due to the required application of high temperatures and pressure. The processing of these materials is typically conducted in an autoclave allowing the simultaneous application of pressure and temperature. Unfortunately, autoclaves are expensive to build and are not of sufficient size to handle large objects. The technology developed at MSFC creates a low-cost process for fabricating high-quality laminated components. The process allows the fabrication of large-diameter structures from high-strength, low-weight composite laminated materials under high pressure so that automated fabrication is possible. The process provides a method of fabricating composite structures by sandwiching the composite material between a material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion and a stiff material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion. When heat is applied to the structure, the differential in thermal expansion creates a pressure differential which acts to compress the composite structure. This new process allows cost effective production of large composite structures, when compared to current production methods.

Options for Commercialization

This technology is part of the NASA Technology Transfer Program. The program seeks to stimulate development of commercial applications from NASA-developed technology. The method of fabricating composite structures has been designed, tested and implemented at MSFC.

Patent Number

5,084,219

Contact for Licensing Information

Technology Transfer Office
Patent Licensing Information
Mail Code CD30
Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812

Key Words

Composite Structures
High Strength Materials