Evaluation of long-duration exposure to the natural space environment on graphite-polyimide and graphite-epoxy mechanical properties

Experiment AO175 involved passive exposure (on oblique leading and trailing faces of LDEF) of carbon-fiber reinforced laminates of epoxy, bismaleimide, and polyimide resins. Post-flight evaluation included: optical examination of exposed surfaces, panel weight and distortion measurements, ultrasonic c-scan inspection, and conventional mechanical testing of coupons machined from the panel.