Abstract: A method and system for inspecting a structure. The method may comprise sending a pulsed wave signal into the structure from a transmitter array. The method may detect a response signal in response to sending the pulsed wave signal into the structure at a group of receivers in a receiver array. The method may identify a group of time delays between sending the pulsed wave signal and may detect the response signal generated in response to the pulsed wave signal at the group of receivers. The method may identify a group of intensities for the response signal detected at the group of receivers. The method may determine a distance to a reflector within the structure using the group of time delays and the group of intensities.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite material may include providing one or more layers of reinforcement material penetrated with viscous matrix material that is doped with electrically conductive particles. The method may further include applying a magnetic field to arrange the particles into one or more electrically conductive pathways, and curing the matrix material to secure the pathways in position relative to the reinforcement material.

Abstract: A method of making an indexed prepreg composite sheet is disclosed. The method comprises forming discrete regions in a resin film layer. The discrete regions are arranged in an indexing pattern. The method also includes forming a precursor prepreg composite sheet by impregnating a fiber reinforcement with the resin film layer having a viscosity. The discrete regions of the resin film layer form non-impregnated regions of the precursor prepreg composite sheet. The method additionally includes replacing the non-impregnated regions of the precursor prepreg composite sheet with indexing openings.

Abstract: Graphene fibers made from a graphene film formed into an elongated fiber-like shape and composite materials made from the graphene fibers. The elongated fiber-like shape may be the graphene film in a rolled spiral orientation or the graphene film in a twisted formation. The graphene film has benzoxazine groups formed on at least an outer surface of the graphene film and epoxide groups formed on at least one edge of the graphene film. Methods of increasing strength of a composite material include combining a resin matrix with a plurality of the graphene fibers to form a prepreg material and curing the prepreg material to form the composite material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating a part. The part is heated with the part at least partially surrounded by a surface of a tooling system, while a heatsink system is positioned relative to the part. A thermal conduction between the heatsink system and the part is changed during heating of the part.

Abstract: A method for chemical vapor deposition on a substrate is disclosed. The method may include directing a process gas into a reaction chamber, and heating the process gas in the reaction chamber. Heating the process gas in the reaction chamber may decompose the process gas to thereby generate a plurality of decomposition products. The method may also include applying one or more biasing fields and/or waves to the process gas upstream of the substrate, and reacting the process gas with the substrate. The one or more biasing fields and/or waves may include electromagnetic waves, electric fields, and/or magnetic fields. The biasing fields and/or waves may urge at least a portion of the process gas towards or away from the substrate.

Abstract: A system (100) for making a prepreg composite sheet (300) comprising contoured charges (308) comprises first means (102) for forming precursor outline regions (206) in a resin film layer (200). The system (100) also comprises second means (106) for impregnating a fiber reinforcement (220), comprising fibers (222), with the resin film layer (200), comprising the precursor outline regions (206), to form the prepreg composite sheet (300). The prepreg composite sheet (300), as so formed, comprises non-impregnated outline regions (310) that define the contoured charges (308). The non-impregnated outline regions (310) in the prepreg composite sheet (300) correspond to the precursor outline regions (206) in the resin film layer (200). The system (100) further comprises third means (104) for guiding the fiber reinforcement (220) and the resin film layer (200) to the second means (106). The resin film layer (200) comprises the precursor outline regions (206) formed by first means (102).

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition method comprises flowing a carrier liquid through a reactor. A fluid comprising one or more reactants is introduced into the carrier liquid. The fluid is at a first temperature and first pressure and is sufficiently immiscible in the carrier liquid so as to form a plurality of microreactors suspended in the carrier liquid. Each of the microreactors comprise a discrete volume of the fluid and have a surface boundary defined by an interface of the fluid with the carrier liquid. The fluid is heated and optionally pressurized to a second temperature and second pressure at which a chemical vapor deposition reaction occurs within the microreactors to form a plurality of chemical vapor deposition products. The plurality of chemical vapor deposition products are separated from the carrier liquid. A system for carrying out the method of the present disclosure is also taught.

Abstract: Composite materials are augmented with functionalized graphene having added amine groups, benzoxazine groups, imide groups, or a combination of amine groups and imide groups on a surface of the graphene, epoxide groups formed on at least one edge of the graphene and/or holes formed through the graphene. The functionalized graphene is integrated into a composite material as a supplement to or as a replacement for either the carbon reinforcement material or the resin matrix material to increase strength of the composite materials, and may be in the form of a functionalized graphene nanoplatelet, a flat graphene sheet or film, or a rolled or twisted graphene sheet or film.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fabrication of enhanced carbon fiber laminates that utilize encapsulated catalyst. One embodiment is a method that includes acquiring a batch of dry fibers, and acquiring a batch of catalyst capsules that each comprise catalyst that accelerates polymerization of monomers of a resin, and a shell that encapsulates the catalyst and liquefies at a curing temperature. The method further includes interspersing the catalyst capsules among the dry fibers, and impregnating the fibers with the resin after interspersing the catalyst capsules with the fibers.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system for forming carbon nanotubes from solid or liquid feedstock. The system includes a reactor including a housing that includes an inlet and an outlet. The housing defines an interior for receiving the feedstock, and the interior receives inert gas. The CVD system includes a first stop valve in flow communication with the inlet and a second stop valve in flow communication with the outlet. The first and second stop valves seal the inlet and the outlet such that a static environment is formed in the interior when reacting the feedstock. A heater heats the interior to a temperature such that the feedstock is vaporized, thereby forming vaporized feedstock. The CVD system further includes a controller coupled in communication with the first and second valves and the heater. The controller is configured to selectively actuate the first and second valves and the heater.

Abstract: A method and structure for an electrical device and a plurality of electrical circuits including a plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The method can include forming a first CNT catalyst layer including a plurality of first CNT catalyst plugs, a plurality of electrical circuits electrically coupled to the first CNT catalyst layer, and a second CNT catalyst layer including a plurality of second CNT catalyst plugs electrically coupled to the second CNT catalyst layer. CNTs may be simultaneously formed on the plurality of first and second CNT catalyst plugs within a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) furnace.

Abstract: A system for use in producing a nanotube mesh structure is provided. The system includes a first nanotube collection apparatus including a first substrate configured to collect a plurality of nanotubes substantially aligned in a first orientation on an attachment surface thereof, and a second nanotube collection apparatus including a second substrate configured to collect a plurality of nanotubes substantially aligned in a second orientation on an attachment surface thereof. The first and second nanotube collection apparatuses are configured to combine the pluralities of nanotubes at an interface. The system also includes a first energy source configured to direct energy towards the interface between the pluralities of nanotubes, wherein the energy is configured to join the pluralities of nanotubes to form the nanotube mesh structure.

Abstract: A method for chemical vapor deposition on a substrate is disclosed. The method may include directing a process gas into a reaction chamber, and heating the process gas in the reaction chamber. Heating the process gas in the reaction chamber may decompose the process gas to thereby generate a plurality of decomposition products. The method may also include applying one or more biasing fields and/or waves to the process gas upstream of the substrate, and reacting the process gas with the substrate. The one or more biasing fields and/or waves may include electromagnetic waves, electric fields, and/or magnetic fields. The biasing fields and/or waves may urge at least a portion of the process gas towards or away from the substrate.

Abstract: A system (100) for making a prepreg composite sheet (300) comprising contoured charges (308) comprises first means (102) for forming precursor outline regions (206) in a resin film layer (200). The system (100) also comprises second means (106) for impregnating a fiber reinforcement (220), comprising fibers (222), with the resin film layer (200), comprising the precursor outline regions (206), to form the prepreg composite sheet (300). The prepreg composite sheet (300), as so formed, comprises non-impregnated outline regions (310) that define the contoured charges (308). The non-impregnated outline regions (310) in the prepreg composite sheet (300) correspond to the precursor outline regions (206) in the resin film layer (200). The system (100) further comprises third means (104) for guiding the fiber reinforcement (220) and the resin film layer (200) to the second means (106). The resin film layer (200) comprises the precursor outline regions (206) formed by first means (102).

Abstract: Methods and compositions, and components comprising the compositions, are disclosed relating to improved resin-based adhesives comprising encapsulating at least a catalyst compound.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide magnetic carbon nanotube clusters configured to form electrically conductive coatings. A magnetic carbon nanotube cluster is formed by receiving a magnetic particle, forming a plurality of carbon nanotube catalyst nanoparticles on an outer surface of the magnetic particle, and forming a plurality of carbon nanotubes extending from the catalyst nanoparticles while the magnetic particle is levitated within a nanotube growth chamber to form the magnetic carbon nanotube cluster. A plurality of magnetic carbon nanotube clusters are suspended in a carrier fluid, the carrier fluid is flowed over a surface of an object, and a magnetic field is applied to the carrier fluid while it is flowing over the surface to cause the plurality of magnetic carbon nanotube clusters to form a coating on the surface of the object.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for interweaving carbon nanotubes. One embodiment comprises a layer of carbon nanotubes. The layer includes carbon nanotubes oriented in a first direction, as well as carbon nanotubes oriented in a second direction that crosses the first direction. The carbon nanotubes oriented in the second direction are interwoven through the carbon nanotubes oriented in the first direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for stitching together sheets of interwoven carbon nanotubes. One embodiment is a method that includes providing multiple sheets of interwoven carbon nanotubes, arranging the sheets over a substrate such that interstices of the sheets overlap at a stitch region of the substrate and heating catalysts at the substrate above a threshold temperature to trigger growth of new carbon nanotubes. The method also includes adjusting alignment of an electrical field that defines a direction of growth of the new carbon nanotubes, thereby causing the new carbon nanotubes to grow through the interstices and then stitch the sheets together.

Abstract: A method of making an indexed prepreg composite sheet is disclosed. The method comprises forming discrete regions in a resin film layer. The discrete regions are arranged in an indexing pattern. The method also includes forming a precursor prepreg composite sheet by impregnating a fiber reinforcement with the resin film layer having a viscosity. The discrete regions of the resin film layer form non-impregnated regions of the precursor prepreg composite sheet. The method additionally includes replacing the non-impregnated regions of the precursor prepreg composite sheet with indexing openings.