NANOLAMINATE-REINFORCED METAL COMPOSITE TANK MATERIAL AND DESIGN FOR STORAGE OF FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE FLUIDS

摘要

An improved fuel tank and method of forming a fuel tank utilize reinforced porous metal composite materials. In one embodiment, the composite material includes a fully dense, fluid- impermeable skin (1) combined with a porous metal baffle (2). The skin (1) and baffle (2) may be formed as a single monolithic system via electrodeposition of a nanolaminate material into at least a portion of open, accessible void space within a porous preform (e.g., a metal foam preform) and on the exterior surface of the preform to form the fluid- impermeable skin (1).