Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Joaquin Ricardo Acevedo

David Eric Daws

Jack D Mackey

The present invention is a low cost carbon fiber-coating produced via a precursor/solvent solution and the methods and processes for fabricating such a carbon fiber-coating. The carbon fiber-coating comprises a fibrous substrate or fabric material and a carbon coating. The carbon coating prior to carbonization, is comprised of a coating solution made of a precursor dissolved directly within a solvent. Fabrication is achieved by first desizing the fibrous substrate, second immersing the desized fibrous substrate in the coating solution, third evaporating the solvent and curing the precursor via a low temperature pyrolysis in preferably an inert atmosphere, and fourth carbonizing the coating via a high temperature pyrolysis. These steps can be repeated as necessary, depending on the desired final thickness of the carbon coating. Multiple applications of the carbon coating can be used to provide limitless final coating thickness.

Carbon fiber-coating produced via precursor/solvent solution

A thermally and electrically conductive caulk having a resin is mixed with a filler mixture which includes 80% by weight large thermally and electrically conductive particles having a particle size within a range of about 300-325 microns, 10% by weight fine thermally and electrically conductive particles having a particle size within a range of about 75-80 microns, and 10% by weight thermally and electrically conductive fibers having a length within a range of about 0.020-0.025 inches. The percentage by weight of filler mixture to resin is optimized such that thermal and electrical conductivity is maximized, while still maintaining desired mechanical properties of the caulk once cured. Preferably, the thermally and electrically conductive particles and fibers are made of carbon. In addition, it is preferred that the large thermally and electrically conductive particles have a particle size of approximately 325 microns, the fine thermally and electrically conductive particles have a particle size of approximately 75 microns, and the thermally and electrically conductive fibers have a length of approximately 0.020 inches. This caulk exhibits a high thermal and electrical conductivity because the differently sized particles result in close packing of the particles in the resinous material making up the remainder of the caulk. Additionally, the thermal and electrical conductivity of the caulk is retained when the caulk is flexed or thermally expanded because of the short fibers employed in the filler material. The carbon fibers maintain contact between particles which have been pulled apart due to the aforementioned flexing or expansion.

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Westminster, CA, United States of America

Joaquin Ricardo Acevedo