Ultra Thin Gauge Polymeric Films for Space Applications.

Abstract

Producing polymeric films almost an order of magnitude thinner in gauge than available heretofore was a prime result of this program. These ultra thin gauge (UTG) films have important space age applications, from improving passive communications satellites to demonstrating great potential as flexible materials in cryogenic applications. Decreasing the weight and increasing the strength of any engineering material are desirable, but generally, mutually exclusive goals. The UTG films extruded under this contract displayed this anomaly. Layflat tubular polyethylene film in gauges down to 1/16. 3 mil (1. 55 microns; 15, 500 A; or 6. 1 x 10(exp -5 in. ) was extruded using experimental resins and special equipment for this program. The ultimate tensile strength of the UTG film was 7,550 psi, an increase of almost 300% over conventional gauge film from this same resin. A theory to explain the anomaly has been developed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1965
Accession Number
ADA307488

Entities

People

  • Dale W. Cox Jr

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Films
  • Low Density
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Materials Testing
  • Mechanical Equipment
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Mechanical Working
  • Physical Properties
  • Polymeric Films
  • Pressure Distribution
  • Space Systems
  • Temperature Gradients
  • Tensile Strength
  • Thin Films

Readers

  • Mechanical Engineering/Mechanics of Materials.
  • Software Engineering
  • Superconducting Magnet Technology

Technology Areas

  • Space