NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Effect of Air and Vacuum Storage on the Tensile Properties of X-Ray Exposed Aluminized-FEPMetallized Teflon(Registered Trademark) FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene), a common spacecraft thermal control material, from the exterior layer of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has become embrittled and suffers from extensive cracking. Teflon samples retrieved during Hubble servicing missions and from the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) indicate that there may be continued degradation in tensile properties over time. An investigation has been conducted to evaluate the effect of air and vacuum storage on the mechanical properties of x-ray exposed FEP. Aluminized-FEP (Al-FEP) tensile samples were irradiated with 15.3 kV Cu x-rays and stored in air or under vacuum for various time periods. Tensile data indicate that samples stored in air display larger decreases in tensile properties than for samples stored under vacuum. Air-stored samples developed a hazy appearance, which corresponded to a roughening of the aluminized surface. Optical property changes were also characterized. These findings indicate that air exposure plays a role in the degradation of irradiated FEP, therefore proper sample handling and storage is necessary with materials retrieved from space.
Document ID
20000063518
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
deGroh, Kim K.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Gummow, Jonathan D.
(Ohio Aerospace Inst. Brook Park, OH United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 2000
Subject Category
Nonmetallic Materials
Report/Patent Number
NASA/TM-2000-210066
E-12294
NAS 1.15:210066
Meeting Information
Meeting: Materials in a Space Environment
Location: Arachon
Country: France
Start Date: June 5, 2000
End Date: June 9, 2000
Sponsors: European Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency, ITL, Inc., Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, Office National d'Etudes et de Recherches Aerospatiales
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 632-6A-1E
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
No Preview Available