Low Creep/Low Relaxation Polymer Composites, Year 3
Project Description
Develop resins for novel low-creep and low-stress-relaxation polymer composites for inflatable and deployable space structures like solar sails, solar arrays, antennas, payload booms, Mars/Moon habitats and planetary decelerators. Large space structures are folded into the confined payload volumes during launch and deployed on orbit or at the mission location to a designed configuration. Current-technology fiber reinforced polymer composite materials can cause dimensional instability due to materials’ inherent viscoelastic behavior. The extended time of stowage between assembly and deployment in space can result in performance degradation and in the worst case, in mission failure.
More »Anticipated Benefits
Control cross-linking density, keeping a good balance between restriction of molecular rearrangement and material brittleness. Design new, stiff molecular structures containing aromatic rings. Candidate polymer structures are aromatic polyimides. Add a rigid second phase (well-bonded filler) and/or small molecules that restrict molecular motion. Secure strong interfaces between reinforcing fibers and the polymer matrix. Characterize the temperature-dependent creep and stress relaxation properties to predict lifetime creep behavior.
More »Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Langley Research Center
(LaRC)
|
Lead Organization | NASA Center | Hampton, Virginia |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Virginia
