Bridging the gap between CFRP and CMC

Materials that enable high-performance structures at service temperatures above 500°F/230°C are limited. The options are basically metals such as titanium and alloys like Inconel, polyimides (PI) or ceramic matrix composites (CMC). All of these are significantly more costly than conventional carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, but CMC have been gaining interest due to their low density — roughly one-third that of Inconel and one-half that of titanium. The downside of CMC has been the long processing times required to make parts — just short of 30 days, according to an April 2019 article in the American Ceramic Society Bulletin.   

However, Pyromeral (Barbery, France) has developed a family of products that bridge this gap, offering performance up to 1,500°C with processing that is more akin to CFRP, producing parts in roughly one week. “We have developed novel chemistry that enables advanced glass-ceramic matrices reinforced with continuous fibers without the lengthy melt infiltration step,” explains Pyromeral’s sales and marketing director Guillaume Jandin. The company offers PyroKarb, PyroSic and PyroXide materials reinforced with high modulus carbon, silicon carbide and aluminum oxide fibers, respectively, typically in the form of two-by-two twill fabrics, resulting in composites with a fiber volume fraction (FVF) of 50%.

Thermal performance factors

Jandin explains that while all three Pyromeral materials can perform above 1000°C for less than 1 hour, PyroKarb offers long-term (less than 1,000 hours) service at 200°C, and up to 100 hours at 500°C. PyroSic offers long-term service at 500°C and up to 100 hours at 800°C. PyroXide offers short service up to 1,500°C, very close to the performance of Ox-Ox CMC, but at a lower cost.

“Thermal performance in actual parts depends on many factors,” says Jandin. “These include the type of heat (radiative, convective), whether there is air flow to help cool down some areas of the part and also what structural properties are required — for example, a non-structural heat shield or semi-structural part. Whether the materials work at continuous high temperature or in short-duration flashes is also critical,” he adds. “PyroSic and PyroKarb work well with the latter, such as repeated cycles of 1000°C for one-tenth of a second, cool down and then repeat. Their low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of roughly 3.10^-6 µm/m/K is a benefit compared to metals, which tend toward a CTE greater than 10.10^-6 µm/m/K. These types of metals incur stress to accommodate rapid, high-temperature thermal cycling and degrade due to fatigue, while our materials do not.”

 

CFRP-like processing, high-temp applications

“We invented our matrix materials to be liquid at room temperature and use  impregnation machines to create prepreg,” notes Jandin. The prepregs are laid onto CF/epoxy tools. “We don’t work with metal tools because our matrix is alkaline and might react,” he adds. “The next step is autoclave densification at 100°C and 6 bar for roughly 12 hours.” Parts are demolded and then proceed, free-standing, through a two-stage thermal process at 500-1,000°C which, completes ceramization of the matrix, resulting in structural components.

Pyromeral found early success in Formula 1 race cars. “Our materials are used in heat shields around engines and also around brakes, which reach temps of 500-700°C,” says Jandin. “During the 2012-13 F1 season, every car except Sauber used our materials for parts to direct engine exhaust gas (800°C). These structures also resisted vibration from both the exhaust and chassis. We now have components on every car racing in F1.”

“Also, we can integrate high-performance insulation into our materials to withstand drops of 700°C with a 6-millimeter thickness,” he continues. “For example, we make components that enable an F1 race car gearbox made of CF/epoxy — which must stay below 180°C — to sit within 20 millimeters of the turbocharger at 900-950°C.” Other applications include a PyroXide heat shield qualified for the Ariane 5 launch vehicle and parts for the Ariane 6, as well as PyroSic exhaust exits for large unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Pyromeral has partnered with Composite Resources (Rock Hill, S.C., U.S.) to expand its market in the U.S. (see “The building of a composites manufacturing niche”). The companies are similar in size and share a long history in racing. “Our experience in parts design and manufacturing is complimentary to Pyromeral’s focus on chemistry and materials performance,” says Composite Resources business development director Melvil Clauson.

The two companies are working to meet customer demands for even higher temperature resistance and to characterize PyroXide’s high radio frequency (RF) transparency for use in radomes and antennas. “We’re seeing interest regarding supersonic aircraft and very broad-based defense applications beyond the Air Force, as well as in commercial jet engines,” notes Clauson.

“Pyromeral products are also future-looking,” says Clauson, “because they contain no petroleum-based substances — only water as a solvent. The other constituents are minerals, enabling us to process end-of-life parts into powder that can be reused in other applications.”