Japanese national project on intermetallics and composites

Abstract

Since 1989 a group of national laboratories, universities and member companies have been challenging a series of tough research areas concerning advanced materials used by, for example, space planes, and hypersonic aircraft to withstand the severest of environments. As an eight-year national project, intermetallic compounds, Ti−Al and Nb−Al, petroleum pitch-based and coal tar pitch-based carbon/carbon composites, and fiber-reinforced intermetallic compound composites have been taken up. Extensive research activities have been covered as follows:

• fundamental characteristics,

• design of the material,

• casting, rolling, powdering, forming and near net shaping,

• surface treatment for oxidation resistance.

The authors briefly review major R&D activities and achievements obtained so far, focusing on these intermetallics, carbon/carbon composites, and fiber-reinforced intermetallic compounds.