Cyanate Ester Composites Co-Cured with a Silicon-Based Thermal Protection System

Abstract

Cyanate esters (CE) have emerged as attractive materials for aerospace applications, due to their ease of processing and excellent high-temperature properties. Using a thermal protection system can increase the service temperature even further. The objective of this research is to develop a co-cure cycle for a cyanate ester/silicon polymer (SM8000) hybrid composite system. The chemorheology and cure kinetics of the CE along with the thermochemical behavior of the SM8000 resin are used to develop a co-cure cycle. Samples prepared by this cure cycle exhibit a 270 'C increase in the onset of thermal decomposition. Interfacial fracture toughness tests reveal a very robust interface, validating the cure cycle.

Keywords

Cyanate esters silicone matrix co-curing thermal protection systems interfacial fracture toughness

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