Abstract: Methods for making densified carbon printed articles from carbon powder are described. Three-dimensional binder jet printing is used to make a printed article from the carbon powder. The printed articles are infiltrated with pitch and may be heated to graphitize at least a portion of the pitch to provide a near net shape densified carbon printed article.

Abstract: Methods for making printed articles from carbon powder are described. Three-dimensional binder jet printing is used to make a printed article from the carbon powder. Methods are also provided for the production of near net shaped carbonized printed articles and graphitized printed articles.

Abstract: Methods and systems (2) are disclosed for making articles (114) by three-dimensional printing. The methods include selectively printing by jet deposition on successive layers (4) of a build material powder (10) at least one of a first binder fluid and a second binder fluid. At least one of the first and second binder fluids includes a particulate matter (16) having mean particle size diameter which is less than that of the build material powder (10). The first binder fluid is characteristically different from the second binder fluid. The particulate matter (16) selectively deposited with a binder fluid can be used to locally tailor the physical properties of the article (114), e.g. by alloying with the build material powder, increasing densification, acting as a local infiltrant or infiltrant stop during heat treatment, locally modulating the local stress fields (e.g. by a mismatch of thermal coefficients of expansion), etc.

Abstract: An infiltrated carbon foam composite and method for making the composite is described. The infiltrated carbon foam composite may include a carbonized carbon aerogel in cells of a carbon foam body and a resin is infiltrated into the carbon foam body filling the cells of the carbon foam body and spaces around the carbonized carbon aerogel. The infiltrated carbon foam composites may be useful for mid-density ablative thermal protection systems.

Abstract: A blast energy mitigating composite useful for protecting a surface or an object from a blast, shock waves, or stress waves caused by a sudden, violent release of energy is described. Certain configurations of the blast energy mitigating composite may include energy mitigating units contained in an energy mitigating matrix. If desired, various reinforcement layers may be incorporated on or within the energy mitigating composite. The energy mitigating units may comprise a porous energy mitigating material such as carbon foam.

Abstract: Electrically gradated carbon foam materials that have changing or differing electrical properties through the thickness of the carbon foam material and methods for making these electrically gradated carbon foam materials are described herein. In some embodiments, the electrically gradated carbon foam materials exhibit increasing electrical resistivity through the thickness of the carbon foam material such that the electrical resistivity near a second surface of the carbon foam is at least 2 times greater than the electrical resistivity near a first surface of the carbon foam. These electrically gradated carbon foam materials may be used as radar absorbers, as well as in electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding schemes.

Abstract: Electrically gradated carbon foam materials that have changing or differing electrical properties through the thickness of the carbon foam material and methods for making these electrically gradated carbon foam materials are described herein. In some embodiments, the electrically gradated carbon foam materials exhibit increasing electrical resistivity through the thickness of the carbon foam material such that the electrical resistivity near a second surface of the carbon foam is at least 2 times greater than the electrical resistivity near a first surface of the carbon foam. These electrically gradated carbon foam materials may be used as radar absorbers, as well as in electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding schemes.