DEVELOPMENT AND QUALIFICATION OF CNT-CFRP COMPOSITE COMPONENTS FOR SPACE APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Space payloads are required to be compact, to withstand harsh climatic conditions, and perform well over the duration of a mission. Advanced lightweight materials with low density, high strength, and high specific stiffness, such as carbon fiber reinforce polymers (CFRP), controlled expansion alloy (CE7), and kevlar composites are better suited for space hardware. Despite of having superior mechanical qualities, CFRP composites have limited range of applications due to their worse electrical and thermal conductivities. By adding nano-fillers to improve conductivity, CFRP can be used extensively. The most often employed conductive nano-fillers in CFRP composites are graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). By creating CFRP composites with superior conductivities, the use of CFRP composites can be extended over large applications for space missions. Materials such as aluminum, kovar, invar, and other composites (non-conductive in nature) may be replaced by CFRP-CNT composites. It can be used for fabricating broad variety of satellite hard wares, including satellite panels, reflectors, feed horns, wave guides, carrier plates, electronic package boxes, and covers. Based on tests with different configurations, it was discovered that 0.5% SWCNT offered better mechanical and electrical properties. CNT-CFRP composites are used in the development of carrier plates and reflectors. This article primarily focuses on development of qualification test strategy and how it differs from traditional systems test plan. Results from test coupons and the product level tests were compared and analyzed. The results are acceptable and found better in comparison to their conventional counterparts.