Findings of the U.S. Department of Defense Technology Assessment Team on Japanese High-Temperature Composites February 1989 Visit

In January 1989 a technology assessment team on high-temperature composites, led by Dr. Benjamin A. Wilcox of ARPA's Materials Sciences Division, conducted a three-week visit to Japanese industry. The purpose of the TAT visit to Japan was threefold: (1) to assess Japanese technology in high-temperature structural composites and reinforcing fibers in order to identify opportunities for improving the performance and durability of U.S. defense hardware; (2) to communicate the observations to U.S. government and industry; and (3) to foster cooperation/coordination in the translation and coupling of such technology in the production of U.S. defense hardware. Technical details of interest included: precursor materials; processing techniques and equipment; availability, applications, cost and performance of fibers and composites; and standards and procedures for nondestructive inspections. Particular emphasis was focused on present and future applications, manufacturing procedures, and production capability. In Section II a report of each visit to a Japanese company is provided, with full technical detail. In Section III the technical information is reviewed on discussed by subject matter. In Section IV, various technical and nontechnical findings are summarized. A discussion of the thermal stability of fibers and composites and environmental effects on them appears in Appendix F.