Fibre composite material, a method of manufacturing a fibre composite ma-terial, a component consisting of or comprising a fibre composite material and a tank structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current liquid hydrogen storage systems face issues with heavy liners prone to delamination due to mismatched thermal expansion coefficients and lack of ductility at cryogenic temperatures, which compromise the integrity and weight efficiency of carbon fibre reinforced plastic tanks.
Innovation Solution
A fibre composite material comprising carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) with a metal component, such as indium or its alloys, mechanically interlocked with fibres, mitigating thermal expansion mismatch and enhancing ductility, allowing for improved sealing and reduced weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal liners are used in CFRP tanks, then tightness and sealing are improved, but weight increases and delamination occurs due to CTE mismatch
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite liner material consisting of a polymer matrix combined with a metal mesh or foil structure. This composite structure provides the tightness and sealing properties of metal while the polymer matrix reduces weight and accommodates CTE differences, preventing delamination between the liner and CFRP tank wall.
2Reliability
If metal liners are used in CFRP tanks, then tightness is improved, but delamination occurs due to CTE mismatch
Solution Approach 1:
The composite liner structure with polymer matrix and metal reinforcement provides both tightness and CTE compatibility. The polymer matrix acts as a buffer that absorbs thermal expansion differences between the metal components and the CFRP tank, preventing delamination while maintaining sealing integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the liner material by using a polymer matrix with specific thermal expansion properties that match or bridge the CTE difference between metal and CFRP. This parameter adjustment resolves the thermal mismatch problem while maintaining tightness.
3Reliability
If metal components are used in cryogenic environments, then ductility is required, but many metals lack ductility at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The invention selects and uses a polymer matrix material whose mechanical properties remain favorable at cryogenic temperatures. The polymer maintains flexibility and ductility at low temperatures, compensating for the brittleness that many metals exhibit in cryogenic environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure combines metal components (which may lose ductility at cryogenic temperatures) with a polymer matrix that retains flexibility. This combination allows the overall liner system to maintain the required ductility and deformation capability even when metal components become brittle at low temperatures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The fibre-metal hybrid material ensures high-performance tank structures with enhanced tightness, reduced outgassing, and crack resistance, particularly in cryogenic conditions, while maintaining a low weight-to-storage ratio.
Implementation Method 1
The CTE mismatch of the metal component and the fibre reinforced plastic, in particular CFRP, is mitigated by the ductility of the metal component, also at cryogenic temperatures.
Implementation Method 2
the fibre composite material, being preferably a carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP)-Metal-Multifunctional composite hybrid, has the advantage that it is mechanically interlocking both the metal component and the fibres via the fibres
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 3c
AI summary
The present invention provides a fibre composite material (10) with at least one fibre layer (12) comprising a metal component having a low melting temperature, high ductility and high density, wherein the fibre layer (12) comprises fibres (13) impregnated with the metal component or having a coating comprising the metal component, a method of manufacturing a fibre composite material (10), a component consisting of or comprising the fibre composite material (10) and a tank structure (30) provided with the component.