Gencorp, Inc.

United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Donald R Wiff

Gerd M Lenke

Fred E Arnold, Jr

Hoe H Chuah

Thaddeus E Helminiak

Loon S Tan

Wen F Hwang

Matatiahu Gehatia

The present invention provides a composite material comprised of a matrix polymer and a reinforcing polymer, called a rigid rod polymer, which is well dispersed in the matrix polymer. This material displays enhanced mechanical properties. The matrix polymer is preferably cured resin, preferably epoxy resin. The rigid rod polymer may be made from polyazomethines, polyimides or polycarbodimides, or mixtures thereof. Preferably, the reinforcing polymer is a polyazomethine. The invention also relates to a method for making the composite material. The composite material is preferably made by first dissolving the rigid rod polymer precursors in the matrix polymer precursors, then polymerizing the rigid rod polymer precursors in-situ and then polymerizing the matrix polymer precursors, in-situ. Alternatively, the rigid rod polymer precursors may be polymerized in-situ simultaneously with the polymerization of the matrix polymer precursors.

In situ thermoset molecular composites

A composite material is comprised of an in situ polymerized rigid rod polymer and an in situ polymerized matrix polymer. The composite material is isotropic and has enhanced mechanical properties as well as improved temperature resistance, improved solvent resistance and improved moisture resistance.

In-situ composites

Provided is a molecular composite comprising a rigid-rod aromatic heterocyclic polymer, a flexible, coil-like thermoplastic polymer and a thermosetting polymer. Also provided is a method for fabricating a molecular composite film or fiber which comprises the steps of forming a biphasic, stir opalescent solution of a rigid-rod aromatic heterocyclic polymer, a thermoplastic polymer, a thermosetting polymer and a solvent which is common to the three polymers, adding solvent to the solution until the solution becomes isotropic and stir opalescence has ceased to determine the critical concentration of polymers in the solvent, adding additional solvent to the solution so that the polymer concentration is below the critical concentration, extruding the solution into a non-solvent for the polymers to form the desired film or fiber, drying the film or fiber and hot drawing the film or fiber at a temperature above the Tg of the thermoplastic, but below the polymerization temperature (Tpoly) of the thermosetting resin.

Thermoset rigid rod molecular composite system

An apparatus for measuring light scattered at various angles from a sample of molecules in solution, having a plurality of conical reflectors mounted on a turret assembly. The turret assembly is positioned in a temperature controlled tank. A laser beam is directed through the tank with the polymer sample being positioned within one of said reflectors in the path of the laser beam. Light scattered at a particular angle is collected and directed to a detector. The unscattered light is also directed toward the detector along a second path. A light chopper is provided to alternately supply scattered light and the unscattered light beam to the detector. The laser beam path through the sample can be reversed to provide a measure of back scattered light. Each of the conical mirrors may be selectively locked in position for positioning the polymer sample in the light path.

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Akron, OH, United States of America

Donald R Wiff