Imperial Chemical Industries Limited

John A Barnes

William N Meredith

William James Brennan

David McNeil

Florence H Cowan

Barriers against atomic oxygen attack, e.g. on substrates such as parts of space vehicles in low earth orbit, consist of layer minerals, especially vermiculite and selected smectites.

Protective barriers

Reinforced composite materials having a thermoplastic matrix and at least 30% by volume and preferably at least 35% by volume of reinforcing filaments, at least 25% by volume being pitch based graphite fibres, are produced having a longitudinal flexural modulus according to ASTM D790-81 of at least 250 GN/m.sup.2. Impregnation of very fragile, inflexible pitch based graphite filaments is achieved using supporting filaments of greater robustness to the abrasion encountered in impregnation processes and, optionally, severing the filaments during the process if products containing only pitch based graphite filaments are required.

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Guisborough, United Kingdom

John A Barnes