Exploratory Development Leading to Improved Materials for Self-Sealing Aircraft Fuel Systems
Abstract
Self-sealing fuel cell constructions were developed with improved capability for sealing wounds inflicted by .50 caliber and 14.5 mm. armour piercing incendiary projectiles but at an increase in weight penalty. All attempts to develop a high temperature (350 deg F) stable, reliable self-sealing elastomeric fuel cell materials composite were thwarted because of poor adhesion at elevated temperature. Although preliminary screening tests on small specimens pinpointed effective adhesives for bonding candidate high temperature sealants to the fabric reinforced fluoroelastomer cell components, the large test panel composites prepared developed flaws in adhesion on exposure to high temperature and performed unsatisfactorily when gunfire tested for self-sealing reliability at room temperature. After an extensive materials investigation, the effort to develop a lightweight non-flowering self-sealing fuel line resulted in the development of a high density polyethylene tube shielded with a conventional self-sealing fuel line cover materials composite. Gunfire evaluation of this lightweight fuel line materials construction showed to to be effective in sealing wounds inflicted by .50 caliber armour piercing projectiles.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0915745
Entities
People
- F. Geerligs
- J. D. Ballentine
- J. R. Kulesia