The increased commitment from NASA and private industry to the exploration of outer space and the use of orbital instrumentation to monitor the earth has focused attention on organic polymeric materials for a variety of applications in space. Some polymeric materials have exhibited short-term (3-5 yr) space environmental durability; however, future spacecraft are being designed with lifetimes projected to be 10-30 years. This gives rise to concern that material property change brought about during operation may result in unpredicted spacecraft performance. Because of their inherent toughness and flexibility, low density, thermal stability, radiation resistance and mechanical strength, aromatic polyimides have excellent potential use as advanced materials on large space structures. Also, there exists a need for high temperature (200-300 degree C) stable, flexible polymeric films that have high optical transparency in the 300-600nm range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Polymers suitable for these space applications were fabricated and characterized. Additionally, these polymers were molecularly oriented to further enhance their dimensional stability, stiffness, elongation and strength. Both unoriented and oriented polymeric thin films were also cryogenically treated to temperatures below - 184 degree C to show their stability in cold environments and determine any changes in material properties.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Molecularly oriented polymeric thin films for space applications


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    1998


    Size :

    12 Seiten, 27 Quellen


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English





    Hybrid Polymeric Bearings for Space Applications

    Lewis, S. D. / Rowntree, R. A. / European Space Agency; Swiss Space Industries | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1997


    Hybrid Polymeric Bearings for Space Applications

    Lewis, S. D. / Rowntree, R. A. | British Library Online Contents | 1997



    Photo-lithographic patterning of biomimetic molecularly imprinted polymer thin films onto silicon wafers

    Boysen, R. I. / Schwarz, L. J. / Li, S. et al. | British Library Online Contents | 2014