Joining of rough carbon-carbon composites with high joint strength

摘要

Carbon-carbon composite parts are joined with minimum surface preparation. A reactive-bonding joint interlayer having thickness greater than 1 mil is formed of fine particles of carbide-forming metallic ingredients and carbon. The joint interlayer is sandwiched between the two carbon-carbon parts to be joined and the assembly is heated under a compressive pressure to a temperature sufficient to complete the bonding reaction. No special surface preparation is required for the carbon-carbon parts due to the nature of the reactive-bonding. The mechanical properties of the joint are assured by selecting the metal-carbon ingredients so that thermal expansion mismatch is minimized. Shear strength exhibited by the resulting joints is greater than the interlaminar shear strength of the carbon-carbon composite material.