HONEYCOMB SANDWICH STRUCTURE HAVING DISSIMILAR METAL FACE SHEETS

Abstract

The invention is a honeycomb structure suitable for use with cryogenic materials. In detail, the invention comprises a honeycomb sandwich structure 10 having a titanium core 14, a first face sheet 12 made of aluminum alloy suitable for high-temperature applications, and a second face sheet 16 made of titanium bonded together by a high-temperature thermoplastic adhesive. Preferably the core 14 is made of Ti-15V-3Cr-3Sn-3 aluminum, Ti-6Al-4V and/or Ti-3Al-2.5V. The first face sheet 12 is, preferably, made out of Al-8Fe-7Ce, Al-13Fe-4.6V, Al-1OFe-1Mo1V and Al-6Fe-6Ni-2Cr or other aluminum alloys suitable for use at temperatures in excess of 600° F. The second face sheet 16 is, preferably, made of Ti-6Al-4V, Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo or Ti-15V-3Cr-3Sn-3Al. Preferably, the adhesive 18a, 18b is a thermoplastic material such as polyetheretherketone, polyphenylquinoxaline or a polyamide-imide. The bond line may incorporate fiberglass sheets to ensure there is no galvanic action between the titanium core and the aluminum face sheet and to maintain a consistant thickness bond.

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Inventor

• 1JAN HARPER-TERVET

Sensitive facility: Palmdale CA (Skunk Works/Plant 42)