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Degradation of Teflon(tm) FEP Following Charged Particle Radiation and Rapid Thermal CyclingDuring the Second Servicing Mission (SM2) of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) severe degradation was observed on the outer layer of the thermal control blankets. Astronaut observations and photographs revealed large cracks in the metallized Teflon(R) FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene), the outer layer of the multi-layer insulation (MLI), in many locations around the telescope. In an effort to understand what elements of the space environment might cause such damage, pristine Teflon(R) FEP was tested for durability to radiation and thermal cycling. Specimens were subjected to electron and proton fluences comparable to those experienced by HST and were subsequently thermal cycled in a custom-built rapid thermal cycle chamber. Tensile tests of the specimens showed that radiation followed by thermal cycling significantly reduced the ultimate strength and elongation of Teflon(R) FEP.
Document ID
19990009924
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Townsend, Jacqueline
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Powers, Charles
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Viens, Michael
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Ayres-Treusdell, Mary
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Munoz, Bruno
(Unisys Corp. Greenbelt, MD United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1998
Publication Information
Publication: 20th Space Simulation Conference: The Changing Testing Paradigm
Subject Category
Nonmetallic Materials
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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