Innovative Fiber Treatment and Sizing Technology for High Performance Vinyl Ester Matrix Composite Materials Navy SBIR FY2004.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2004.1 Topic No.: N04-094 Topic Title: Innovative Fiber Treatment and Sizing Technology for High Performance Vinyl Ester Matrix Composite Materials Proposal No.: N041-094-1 Firm: Performance Polymer Solutions Inc. 91 Westpark Road Centerville, Ohio 45459 Contact: David Curliss Phone: (937) 298-3713 Web Site: http://www.p2si.com Abstract: A major limitation of vinyl ester resins is their performance with carbon fiber reinforcements. Carbon fiber composites can possess much higher specific stiffness and strength than glass fiber composites, but the laminated composite properties depend on a good mechanical interface between the matrix resin and the fiber. VE resins typically do not exhibit good adhesion to the carbon fibers and results in generally poor composite compression properties, interlaminar shear properties, and fatigue performance. To address these limitations of VE/carbon composites an innovative approach to increase the fiber interfacial adhesion and toughen the interphase region between the carbon fiber surface and the VE matrix will result in realization of the high strength, high stiffness, and lighter weight benefits of high modulus carbon fiber composites. In this proposed research effort Performance Polymer Solutions Inc. will develop an optimized VE-carbon fiber composite as a system utilizing: (1) a state-of-the-art VE resin; (2) an innovative carbon fiber surface modification; (3) advanced modeling and analysis techniques to efficiently optimize the desired characteristics of the resin-fiber interface; and (4) perhaps most importantly, teaming with a carbon fiber manufacturer to ensure that required fiber treatments are developed with production-scale considerations and transitioned to industry for immediate commercialization. Benefits: There exists a critical need in the defense industry for a high performance vinyl ester carbon fiber reinforced composite system. Existing carbon fiber surface treatments and sizings are not designed for vinyl ester chemistry and thus do not allow the full potential of the high modulus high strength carbon fiber to be attained. Vinyl ester resins exhibit tremendous property and processing characteristics and an optimized VE/carbon fiber system will have enormous potential to meet these challenging requirements for future Navy systems applications. In addition, the material proposed by this solicitation will have wide use and broad customer interest in many industries, including aerospace, marine, automotive, industrial, recreational, transportation, racing, and wind power generation. An optimized VE/carbon fiber composite system opens the door for many components and applications, and in many cases becomes an enabling technology for the defense industry. Through its contacts with the primes, parts builders, and government defense agencies, P2SI will actively work to market and transition the technology developed under this program. P2SI possesses the capital, resources, networking, and experience to meet the rapid material demands that are likely to evolve upon successful completion of this program. Return