Low-Density Foam for Insulating Liquid-Hydrogen Tanks.

Abstract

A lightweight polyurethane foam insulation for liquid hydrogen tanks of space vehicles was developed that could he foamed in place, did not crack when chilled to liquid hydrogen temperature, and had a thermal conductivity of 0.0137 W/(m)(K) (0.0079 Btu/(hr)(ft)(R)) at a mean temperature of 136 K (243 deg. R). The foaming-in-place technique in which the foam constituents were poured directly on the tank, coupled with the specific foam formulation, produced a 34.4-kg/cu m - (2.14-lb/cu ft) density foam that remained structurally intact during all simulated ground-hold vibration, and space-hold tests conducted. Thermophysical properties of the foam were determined, and thermal stress profiles throughout a layer of insulation were calculated.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1969
Accession Number
ADA308410

Entities

People

  • Irving E. Sumner

Organizations

  • Glenn Research Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Conductivity
  • Hydrogen
  • Insulation
  • Lightweight
  • Liquid Hydrogen
  • Low Density
  • Physical Properties
  • Polyurethanes
  • Spacecraft
  • Stresses
  • Thermal Conductivity
  • Thermal Stresses
  • Thermophysical Properties
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Polymer Science and Engineering.
  • Thermal Physics or Thermal Science.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Graphene
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster