Patent — available for licensing
A New Class of Strong and Flexible Carbon Fiber Reinforced Phenolic Composites
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
NASA has filed a patent on a technology that creates a new class of phenolic and carbon fiber reinforced phenolic composites for thermal protection systems. The new materials have the advantage of being lightweight, strong, tough, yet heat resistant, and flexible. Their best characteristic is their remarkable capability to retain excellent mechanical strength at high temperatures. This provides better thermal protection for re-entry conditions with high heating rates. The materials incorporate thermoplastic polymer segments that are uniformly distributed throughout, and chemically bonded to the phenolic network. Phenolic resin polymers are a class of widely used thermosetting polymers. Their numerous advantages include excellent heat, radiation, corrosion/chemical resistances, and being flame retardant. They are low cost and have versatile processing/manufacturing methods.