Highly Conductive Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite Electronic Box: Out-Of-Autoclave Manufacturing for Space Applications
One of the main advantages of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) electronic housings, when compared with traditionally used aluminum ones, is the potential for mass savings. In recent years, the power consumption of electronics has been growing, resulting in the need for higher thermal dissipati...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-11-01
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| Series: | Fibers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/6/4/92 |
| _version_ | 1811187366200606720 |
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| author | Marta Martins Rui Gomes Luís Pina Celeste Pereira Olaf Reichmann Daniele Teti Nuno Correia Nuno Rocha |
| author_facet | Marta Martins Rui Gomes Luís Pina Celeste Pereira Olaf Reichmann Daniele Teti Nuno Correia Nuno Rocha |
| author_sort | Marta Martins |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | One of the main advantages of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) electronic housings, when compared with traditionally used aluminum ones, is the potential for mass savings. In recent years, the power consumption of electronics has been growing, resulting in the need for higher thermal dissipation of electronic housings, requiring the use of highly thermally conductive materials. In this work, the manufacturing of a highly conductive CFRP electronic housing is reported. With a view to reducing total energy costs on manufacturing, an out-of-the autoclave manufacturing process was followed. Due to the inherent low thermal conductivity of typical raw materials for composite materials, strategies were evaluated to increase its value by changing the components used. The use of pitch-based carbon fibers was found to be a very promising solution. In addition, structural, thermal and manufacturing simulations were produced in the design phase. Improved performance was demonstrated from materials manufacturing to final breadboard testing. The results indicate potential gains of around 23% in mass reduction when compared to conventional aluminum electronic boxes. Moreover, the proposed design and the manufactured breadboard showed good compliance with mechanical and electrical requirements for spacecraft structures. The thermal balance results showed a performance slightly below to what would be expected from the detailed design. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:02:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-064ac58941d342d3a51113523fac0841 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-6439 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:02:09Z |
| publishDate | 2018-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fibers |
| spelling | doaj.art-064ac58941d342d3a51113523fac08412022-12-22T04:20:04ZengMDPI AGFibers2079-64392018-11-01649210.3390/fib6040092fib6040092Highly Conductive Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite Electronic Box: Out-Of-Autoclave Manufacturing for Space ApplicationsMarta Martins0Rui Gomes1Luís Pina2Celeste Pereira3Olaf Reichmann4Daniele Teti5Nuno Correia6Nuno Rocha7INEGI—Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalINEGI—Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalINEGI—Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalINEGI—Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalHPS—High Performance Space Structure Systems GmbH, 81379 München, GermanyESA—European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), 2201 AZ Noordwijk, The NetherlandsINEGI—Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalINEGI—Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalOne of the main advantages of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) electronic housings, when compared with traditionally used aluminum ones, is the potential for mass savings. In recent years, the power consumption of electronics has been growing, resulting in the need for higher thermal dissipation of electronic housings, requiring the use of highly thermally conductive materials. In this work, the manufacturing of a highly conductive CFRP electronic housing is reported. With a view to reducing total energy costs on manufacturing, an out-of-the autoclave manufacturing process was followed. Due to the inherent low thermal conductivity of typical raw materials for composite materials, strategies were evaluated to increase its value by changing the components used. The use of pitch-based carbon fibers was found to be a very promising solution. In addition, structural, thermal and manufacturing simulations were produced in the design phase. Improved performance was demonstrated from materials manufacturing to final breadboard testing. The results indicate potential gains of around 23% in mass reduction when compared to conventional aluminum electronic boxes. Moreover, the proposed design and the manufactured breadboard showed good compliance with mechanical and electrical requirements for spacecraft structures. The thermal balance results showed a performance slightly below to what would be expected from the detailed design.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/6/4/92electronic boxcarbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP)spacethermal conductivity |
| spellingShingle | Marta Martins Rui Gomes Luís Pina Celeste Pereira Olaf Reichmann Daniele Teti Nuno Correia Nuno Rocha Highly Conductive Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite Electronic Box: Out-Of-Autoclave Manufacturing for Space Applications Fibers electronic box carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) space thermal conductivity |
| title | Highly Conductive Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite Electronic Box: Out-Of-Autoclave Manufacturing for Space Applications |
| title_full | Highly Conductive Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite Electronic Box: Out-Of-Autoclave Manufacturing for Space Applications |
| title_fullStr | Highly Conductive Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite Electronic Box: Out-Of-Autoclave Manufacturing for Space Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Highly Conductive Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite Electronic Box: Out-Of-Autoclave Manufacturing for Space Applications |
| title_short | Highly Conductive Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite Electronic Box: Out-Of-Autoclave Manufacturing for Space Applications |
| title_sort | highly conductive carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite electronic box out of autoclave manufacturing for space applications |
| topic | electronic box carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) space thermal conductivity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/6/4/92 |
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