Paper number 492

FINE EFFECTS IN EPOXY BINDERS OF POLYMER COMPOSITE MATERIALS AFTER EXPOSURE TO THE SPACE ENVIRONMENT

Oleg V. Startsev¹, A. Paillous², V.V. Isupov¹, A.S. Krotov¹, and E.F. Nikishin³

1Altai State University, 66 Dimitrova St., Barnaul, 656099, Russia
2CERT-ONERA/DESP, 2 Avenue E. Belin, Toulouse, 31055 cedex, France
3M.V. Khrunitchev State Space Scientific Production Center ("Salyut" Design Bureau),
18 Novozavodskaya St., Moscow, 121087, Russia

Summary

Physical and mechanical properties of polymer composite materials on the basis of epoxy binders being used in aircraft and space technics and subjected to the low Earth orbit space environment influence have been investigated by the DMA method. New spectrometric approach was suggested for processing of dependences of the dynamic shear modulus on the temperature, in particular, numerical derivation and decomposition of first derivative curves into Gauss distribution. To raise the reliability of determination of fine gradient effects of binder properties across the thickness of the laminates, computer analysis of DMA data according to the spectrometric principles was performed, conclusions about stability of the materials in the structure of micrometeor protection of "Mir" orbital complex were made.

Keywords

space exposure, dynamic mechanical analysis, numerical derivation, Gauss distribution, gradient of properties, thermal cycling, transition region, postcuring process.