LCA: Co-cured Carbon-Bismaleimide Composite Engine Bay Door

[KapitaanAli]

 

[KapitaanAli]

BISMALEIMIDE (BMI) RESINS are a relatively young class of thermosetting polymers that are gaining acceptance by industry because they combine a number of unique features including excellent physical property retention at elevated temperatures and in wet environments, almost constant electrical properties over a wide range of temperatures, and nonflammability properties. Bismaleimides have become a leading class of thermosetting polyimides. Their excellent processibility and balance of thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties have made them popular in advanced composites and electronics. Composites of the BMI class are used on some of the most important and complex, high-performance applications ranging from military programs such as the U.S. Air Force's F-22 to Formula-1 race cars. The most important attribute of BMIs is the highest service temperature capability of an addition-cure matrix resin combined with epoxy-like autoclave processing. The BMI matrix composites provide the highest composite mechanical properties available through 177 °C (350 °F)/wet with damage tolerance equivalent to the best epoxies. Certain BMIs are capable of extended service at 230 to 290 °C (450 to 550 °F), approaching the performance of PMR-15. BMIs also are suitable for resin transfer molding (RTM) processing.