Hostname: page-component-54dcc4c588-sq2k7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-10-08T15:26:18.236Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Polymeric materials for Solar Sail: The combined effects of polymer thickness, radiation, and temperature

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

David L. Edwards  and
Mircea Chipara
David L. Edwards
Affiliation:
NASA MSFC Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama
Mircea Chipara
Affiliation:
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Get access

Abstract

The feasibility and the performance of solar sail depend critically on the availability of light materials and extremely thin polymeric films. The main requirements imposed on solar sail materials are analyzed in depth. The potential effects of the space environment are discussed in detail, with emphasis on the radiation-temperature-polymeric film thickness relationships. It is shown that the radiation component of the space environment triggers two competing degradation processes (erosion and depolymerization) and that both processes act towards the decrease in the glass transition temperature.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 851: Symposium NN – Materials for Space Applications , 2004 , NN1.6
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

REFERENCES

1. Garner, C., Solar Sail Propulsion Requirements, Materials Science for Advanced Propulsion Planning Workshop, Huntsville, Alabama, 9–10 October, 2001.Google Scholar
2. Johnson, Les, In-Space Propulsion, Materials Science for Advanced Propulsion Planning Workshop, Huntsville, Alabama, 9–10 October, 2001.Google Scholar
3. Silverman, E. M., Space Environmental Effects on Spacecraft: LEO Materials Selection Guide, NASA contractor report 4661; D. A. Russel, L. Bb. Fogdall, G. B. Hlavacek, Simulated Space Environmental Testing on Thin Films, NASA/CR-2000–210101.Google Scholar
4. Keddie, J. L., Jones, R. A. L., Cory, R. A., Faraday Discuss., 98, 219, 1994.Google Scholar
5. Keddie, J. L., Jones, R. A. L., Cory, R. A., Europhys. Lett., 27(1), 59, 1994.Google Scholar
6. Keddie, J. L. and Jones, R. A. L., Israel J. Chem., 35, 21–26, 1995.Google Scholar
7. Forrest, J. A., Dalnoki-Veress, K., Dutcher, J. R., Phys. Rev. E, 56, 5, 5705, 1997.Google Scholar
8. van Zanten, J. H., Wallace, W. E. and Li Wu, W., Phys. Rev, 53, 3, R2053, 1996.Google Scholar
9. Wallace, W. E., Li Wu, W., van Zanten, J. H., Phys. Rev. E, 52, 3329, 1995.Google Scholar
10. Chipara, M., Polymer Preprints, ACS Symposium, Washington, 2000.Google Scholar
11. De Gennes, P.G. “INTRODUCTION TO POLYMER DYNAMICS”, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1990.Google Scholar
12. Ferry, J. D., “VISCOELASTIC PROPERTIES OF POLYMERS” John Wiley, New York, 1970, p. 299–346.Google Scholar