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Performance of selected polymeric materials on LDEFThe NASA Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) provided a unique environmental exposure of a wide variety of materials for potential advanced spacecraft application. This paper examines the molecular level response of selected polymeric materials which flew onboard this vehicle. Polymers include epolyimide, polysulfone, and polystyrene film and polyimide, polysulfone, and epoxy matrix resin/graphite fiber reinforced composites. Several promising experimental films were also studied. Most specimens received 5.8 years of low Earth orbital (LEO) exposure on LDEF. Several samples received on 10 months of exposure. Chemical characterization techniques included ultraviolet-visible and infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and selected solution property measurements. Results suggest that many molecular level effects present during the first 10 months of exposure were not present after 5.8 years of exposure for specimens on or near Row 9. Increased AO fluence near the end of the mission likely eroded away much environmentally induced surface phenomena. The objective of this work is to provide fundamental information for use in improving the performance of polymeric materials for LEO application. A secondary objective is to gain an appreciation for the constraints and limitations of results from LDEF polymeric materials experiments.
Document ID
19940026518
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Young, Philip R. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Slemp, Wayne S. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Stein, Bland A. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: NASA. Marshall Space Flight Center, LDEF Materials Results for Spacecraft Applications
Subject Category
Nonmetallic Materials
Accession Number
94N31023
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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