MODIFICATION AND APPLICATION OF GELATIN FOR RIGIDIZATION OF EXPANDABLE HONEYCOMB STRUCTURES
Abstract
The Air Force Aero-Propulsion Laboratory in cooperation with the Air Force Materials Laboratory demonstrated the feasibility of utilizing gelatin as a rigidization media for expandable structures. Work was done as an in-house study, which produced some promising structural properties and space applicability information for gelatin. The high strength to weight advantages of expandable honeycomb substrate fabrics was also demonstrated. The original objective of this study was to apply gelatin to space and terrestrial structures which consist of sandwich type structural materials. These particular structures are space shelters and solar energy concentrators. The objective incorporated a three fold task; (a) Improving the existing gelatin rigidization system and selecting a suitable plasticizer system, (b) Chemical modification of gelatin for vapor phase rigidization, and (c) Application of gelatin (natural and modified) to sandwich type structures. Further efforts will be diverted to improving application techniques of a plasticizer boil-off gelatin system to space structures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 22, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0489188