Post Cure: High-temperature CFC fixtures, racking systems for precise, efficient heat treatment

Modular composite grids (shown here), used as fixtures and racking systems to hold aerospace, automotive, tooling and industrial parts during high-temperature heat treatment, is one example of how Americarb (Niagara Falls, N.Y., U.S.) serves its customers’ ultra-high temperature carbon fiber, graphite and carbon-carbon product needs.

Americarb collaborated with partner High Temperature Concept (Sarasota, Fla., U.S.), supplying the materials for the design and manufacture of eight racks containing four levels of 48 × 48-inch carbon fiber-reinforced carbon (CFC) grids. Equaling 32 grids total with 2.4-inch-deep × 8-millimeter-thick slats, each rack level is rated for a load of 340 kilograms (≈1,360 kilograms per rack).

Racks are constructed from Americarb’s CC16HC2 grade of CFC composite, featuring a density of 1.65 grams/cubic centimeter and flexural strength exceeding 190 megapascals. The company’s CFC composites are made using in-house carbon fiber/phenolic prepreg, with laminates pyrolyzed in one of Americarb’s 18 induction furnaces and/or its large 30 × 40 × 40-foot carbonization furnace.

Outside of modular grids, Americarb specializes in CFC cylinders and tubes, CFC fixtures and racks and other CFC products for hydrogen electrolysis, fuel cells, hypersonic systems, launch systems, lithium-ion batteries and vacuum heat treating fixtures. The company engineers, sources raw materials, molds, heat treats up to 2900°C, machines and assembles in its vertically integrated, world-class facility.