Processing and Characterization of Aerospace Composites for Advanced Radome Applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Aerospace Engineering
• Electromagnetics

Background:

• Radomes are critical for protecting aerospace radar systems in harsh environments.
• Maintaining structural integrity and minimizing signal attenuation (especially in the Ku-band) are key challenges for radome materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize innovative composite materials for aerospace radome applications.
• To evaluate the trade-offs between mechanical properties and electromagnetic performance of different composite systems.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of composite samples using hand layup, infusion molding, and autoclave processing.
• Mechanical testing (tensile, impact, flexural strength) according to ASTM standards.
• Electromagnetic testing in an anechoic chamber for Ku-band performance evaluation.

Main Results:

• Cyanate ester/quartz composites produced via autoclave processing exhibited insertion loss < 1 dB in the Ku-band with adequate mechanical properties.
• Kevlar-based composites offered higher mechanical strength but slightly reduced signal transparency.
• Autoclave processing yielded superior electromagnetic performance for cyanate ester/quartz composites.

Conclusions:

• Autoclave-processed cyanate ester/quartz composites are optimal for Ku-band aerospace radomes due to superior electromagnetic performance.
• Material selection and processing techniques significantly impact radome performance, guiding future aerospace composite development.
• This research supports the development of indigenously produced high-performance aerospace materials.