HPMI specializes in replacing metal structures with composites and designing and producing unitized composites/metallic structures. HPMI has multiple primary capabilities, including:
- Concept exploration and definition
- Feasibility assessment and cost trades study
- Proof-of-concept demonstration
- Sub-scale and full-scale production
-RTM and VARTM
-High-temperature VARTM (Tp = 800F, and Tg = 750F)
-Realtime permeability measurement in a closed mold (GRASP)
-Mold design and CNC fabrication
-Compression molding (800F, 150T, 2' x 2')
-Extrusion (8-zone, 400 oC, 40:1 (L/D), 1-5 lb/hour)
-Vacuum bagging of prepregs
-Composites with acoustic attenuation (micron size particles)
-VARTM for multifunctional composites (with honeycomb and embedded sensors)
-2Phase reconfigurable tooling system
-Large-sized RIDFT (up to 5' x 10')
-Mid-sized RIDFT (up to 3' x 4')
-UV curing testbed
-Nanotube dispersion (sonication and surfactants; powder mixing)
-Nanotube functionalization
-Nanotube buckypaper films (70 sq. in., 20 ~ 40 microns thickness)
-Magnetic alignment of nanotubes
-Superconducting magnet for tube alignment
-Nanotube-reinforced composites
-Nanotube/thermoplastic composites
-Nanotube-reinforced, multifunctional composite thin films
-Laser cutting of nanocomposites
-Waterjet cutting of composites
-3D printer
-Cold cathode vacuum
-Vacuum oven
-High-temperature oven
-Sonicators
-Hot press
-Centrifuge
-Humidity chamber
-Dispermat
-GerberCutter
-Thermal analysis (DMA, DSC, TMA, TGA)
-FT-IR analysis, including microscope (micron level)
-Optical microscope with CCD camera
-Multimode AFM (0.3 nm resolution)
-High-resolution SEM
-Ultramicrotome
-Raman spectrometry analysis
-Rheometer
-Viscometer
-MTS 858 table top test frame (25 kN load cell)
-Shimadzu AGS-J micro test frame (500 N and 1 kN load cells)
-Drop weight impact tester (6m/s)
-4-probe electric resistivity tester
-In-situ electrical resistivity testing system
-Permeability testbed (linear)
-Environmental property test
-Oxygen index tester
-Non-contact 3D digitizer/scanner
-CMM
-Surface area and porosity analyzer
-Sample degas system
-UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer
-DC & AC current source
-Nanovoltmeter
-1100V source meter
-Electrometer/high resistance meter
-Resistivity test fixture
-20 MHz function/arbitrary waveform generator
-Thermal conductivity measurement
-EDAX Genesis XM4
-Sputter coater
-Vacuum controller
-Rotavapor
-Radiant power energy meter
-FloCell
-Mixing extruder
-RTM flow simulation (3D, isothermal)
-VARTM flow simulation (3D, isothermal)
-Optimization model for LCM mold design
-Composite structural analysis (ABAQUS, MARC)
-Thermal analysis (ABAQUS, MARC)
-RIDFT forming and wrinkle prediction (PAM-FORM)
-Modeling of conductive network-electrical property relationships for polymer/carbon
-nanotube composites
-Molecular dynamics simulation of nanotube-epoxy interactions at nanoscale (Materials
-Studio (SGI Origin 300), LAMMPS (Teragold IBM p-Series 690)
-Molecular dynamics modeling of interfacial bonding and load transfer (Materials Studio (
-(SGI Origin 300), LAMMPS (Teragold IBM p-Series 690)
-MD simulation of dispersion of nanotubes (Materials Studio (SGI Origin 300), LAMMPS (Teragold IBM p-Series 690)
-SGI Servers and workstations
-SUN workstations
-High-performance PCs
-ABAQUS, Algor, AutoCAD, MARC, Materials Studio, PATRAN, Pro-Engineer