Paul D. McLean

Modification of Free Volume in Epoxy Adhesive Formulations

Abstract Additives are described which modify the free volume available for segmental motion in epoxy adhesives. Such a mechanism can produce an increase in the tensile modulus of conventional epoxy-amine systems of>60% (e.g. to>4.1 GPa) and in tensile strength of>50% (e.g. to 125 MPa), while also producing a ductile mode of failure (stress-strain curve has negative slope before failure). At low strains, a reduction in free volume hinders polymer segmental motion and so increases the modulus. However, these materials also exhibit a very low Poissons ratio and strains of ca. 5% cause a sufficient increase in free volume that ductile failure can occur. Improvements in low temperature cure properties (e.g. 118 MPa tensile strength at 60°C cure) together with reductions in the coefficient of thermal expansion and water uptake are also reported. These improvements in bulk adhesive properties are shown to translate into improved adhesive joint performance.

The stability of polymers in low earth orbit

Abstract Most organic polymers and some on polymeric materials such as silver or pigments suffer appreciable surface damage in the form of erosion or oxidation when exposed to the low earth orbit (LEO) environment encountered on shuttle flights. Surfaces facing the direction of flight suffer the most damage because of ram effects. Typical thickness losses for plastic films (eg. epoxy, Kapton, Mylar) can be 5 – 10μm. The aggressive chemical nature of the LEO environment (including atomic oxygen and O + ions), aided by the high collision energies of the gases with forward facing surfaces, are thought to be responsible for the erosion and oxidation.