Method for incorporation of insulators and bulk absorbers in high temperature sandwich structures after fabrication
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsLeanne L. Lehman, Vann Heng, James Philip Ledesma, Jr., Jonathan David Embler
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Abstract
A method for adding insulation or bulk absorbers into high temperature sandwich structures following fabrication is presented. A slurry of ceramic fibers and/or particles, opacified particles, fugitive fibers, organic binders and inorganic binders is prepared as an aqueous solution. The slurry is cast within a prepared sandwich structure, dried, and heated to form a low density ceramic core material to provide insulation or noise absorption. Following incorporation of the ceramic material, aerogels or phase change materials may also be added to provide additional thermal management benefits.
Claims7
A method of forming an insulative structure comprising the steps of:
- providing a sandwich structure having at least two sides defining an interior volume;
- providing a slurry comprising an insulating particulate mixture in a liquid, wherein the insulating particulate mixture comprises filled hollowspheres, said hollowspheres comprising alumina filled with a material selected from the group consisting of:
- silicon tetraborides, silicon hexaborides and combinations thereof;
- introducing the liquid into the sandwich structure to obtain a sandwich structure filled to a predetermined amount with the slurry;
- substantially eliminating excess liquid from the slurry;
- and
- heat treating the filled sandwich structure to substantially cure the slurry.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.