Inventors:
George E. Wrenn - Clinton TN
Leonard A. Abbatiello - Oak Ridge TN
John Lewis - Oak Ridge TN
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC
International Classification:
B29C 4116, B29C 7102
Abstract:
Ultralight carbon-bonded carbon fiber composites of densities in the range of about 0. 04 to 0. 10 grams per cubic centimeter are fabricated by forming an aqueous slurry of carbonaceous fibers which include carbonized fibers and 0-50 weight percent fugitive fibers and a particulate thermosetting resin precursor. The slurry is brought into contact with a perforated mandrel and the water is drained from the slurry through the perforations at a controlled flow rate of about 0. 03 to 0. 30 liters per minutes per square inch of mandrel surface. The deposited billet of fibers and resin precursor is heated to cure the resin precursor to bind the fibers together, removed from the mandrel, and then the resin and fugitive fibers, if any, are carbonized.