Thermoplastic Combat Identification Panel (CIP) Insert

摘要

This report describes and documents only the work performed by the LightweightStructures Team. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the corrugated thermoplastic panels for use as combat identification panel (CIP) inserts. The effects of panel size, shape, bending stiffness and CTE mismatch were studied on the Boltaron(R) corrugated panels inserts performance. The laboratory study simulated the field temperatures only and not the humidity and moisture. A typical thermal cycle consisted of 160 deg F temperature held for 8 hours and -40 deg F temperature held for 24 hours in a test chamber. Five such thermal cycles were a plied to 8 different size panels made from Boltaron(R) 1050-2079 and Boltaron(R) 4050-2103 thermoplastics. Findings of this investigation indicates that Boltaron(R) 1050 with the existing tapes would be the minimally acceptable solution for many immediate acquisitions, however, it is strongly recommended that additional studies be performed to develop a new tape that exactly matches the CTE of Boltaron(R) 1050 for the ideal and best solution.