Experimental study of the functional and mechanical properties of shape memory polymer composites for a reflector of the space antenna

Experimental study of the shape memory polymer composite is carried out as a part of scientific and technological work aimed at development of the new promising reflectors for space antenna. The studied material consists of three-layered carbon biaxial fabric St 12073 impregnated with a polyurethane-based Diaplex MP5510 polymer matrix. This material is intended for manufacturing a frame used in the construction of a precise composite reflector of space antenna. When opening the reflector to the transport position, the rim activated by heating recovers a previously specified shape thus increasing the rigidity of the reflector at the periphery and enhancing the accuracy of the reflecting surface. To study the functional and mechanical properties of the rim material in manufacturing and operating conditions, experimental tests were carried out on the samples with different schemes of reinforcement: [0₃], [0/±60] and [0/±45]. The main goal of the study is to determine the degree and rate of the shape recovery, reinforcement angles, deformation rate and exposure time in the strained state. The developed test program included several stages. At the first stages, tests were carried out for fixing and restoring the shape upon three-point bending of flat samples at a strain rate of 1, 5, and 10 mm/sec and exposure of the specimens in deformed state for 24, 48, and 96 h. According to the results the material with the reinforcement angles [0₃] was accepted as optimal for the rim design, as it has maximal shape recovery parameters. For the selected material at the final stage of the study, the elastic modulus and tensile strength were determined at operating temperatures –50, +20, and +60°C. The tests showed that the studied polymer composite material has the desired shape memory properties and is promising for the rim manufacturing provided the heat insulation during operation.

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