KES3-1444
Advanced Fabrication Strategies for Multifunctional Polyimide-Based CFRP in Extreme Aerospace Environments
Topic
S3. Processing / Fabrications (Emerging Horizons in Polymer Processing and Fabrication)
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
16:25 - 16:50
Room 104
Session Chairs
Hyomin LEE
Presenter(s)
Dong Gi Seong (Pusan National University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Polyimide (PI)-based carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) are attractive for ultra-high-temperature aerospace applications, but their fabrication is difficult because PI resins typically exhibit high viscosity and require high processing temperatures for impregnation, imidization, and consolidation. These limitations hinder resin infiltration into dense carbon fiber preforms, promote void formation, and increase manufacturing complexity. To address these challenges, two processing strategies are presented. The first strategy integrates carbon nanotube films (CNTF) into PI-based CFRP laminates via Joule-heated infusion, where CNTF layers serve as electrothermal heaters during processing and remain as multifunctional surface layers. This localized and uniform heating improves impregnation and consolidation, reduces voids and defects, and provides enhanced mechanical, thermal, de-icing, hydrophobic, and electromagnetic shielding performance. The second strategy employs vacuum-assisted nano-network co-infiltration (VANCI), in which CNTs and PI powders are co-infiltrated into carbon fiber fabrics to form continuous CNT nano-networks within the laminate. The resulting nanoconfined PI structure improves thermal resistance, conductivity, and wear performance. These two strategies offer distinct routes for overcoming the processing limitations of PI-based CFRPs and developing multifunctional composites for extreme aerospace environments.
