The effect of simulated hypervelocity space debris on polymers

Journal Article · Mon Nov 08 04:00:00 EST 2004 · Acta Materialia

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2004.08.013· OSTI ID:20634804

Verker, R ^[1]; Eliaz, N ^[2]; Gouzman, I ^[3]; Eliezer, S ^[4]; Fraenkel, M ^[4]; Maman, S ^[4]; Beckmann, F ^[5]; Pranzas, K ^[5]; Grossman, E ^[3]

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1. Space Environment Division, Soreq NRC, Yavne 81800 (Israel) and Department of Solid Mechanics, Materials and Systems, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978 (Israel)
2. Department of Solid Mechanics, Materials and Systems, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978 (Israel)
3. Space Environment Division, Soreq NRC, Yavne 81800 (Israel)
4. Department of Plasma Physics, Soreq NRC, Yavne 81800 (Israel)
5. Department of Neutron Scattering, GKSS, Geesthacht 21502 (Germany)

Space debris population in low Earth orbit has been increasing constantly with the increase in spacecraft missions. Hypervelocity space debris impacts limit the functionality of polymeric outer surfaces and, in extreme cases, might cause a total loss of a spacecraft. In this work, the fracture of Kapton films by ultrahigh velocity impacts was studied. A laser-driven flyer ground simulation system was used to accelerate aluminum flyers to impact velocities as high as 2.9 km/s against polymer films with different thicknesses. Scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the fracture morphology. Impact effects on the internal structure of the polymer were studied by means of X-ray microtomography. It was found that with an increase in debris velocity, a ductile-to-brittle transition occurred. However, fractures created by impacts at velocities above 1.7 km/s showed central impacts regions, which experienced the highest strain rate and were of ductile-type fracture, while the outer regions, which experienced a lower strain rate, failed through brittle cracking. A model explaining this phenomenon, based on the temperature gradient developed within the impacted region during collision, is presented.

• OSTI ID: 20634804
• Journal Information: Acta Materialia, Journal Name: Acta Materialia Journal Issue: 19 Vol. 52; ISSN 1359-6454; ISSN ACMAFD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALUMINIUM
CRACKING
DUCTILE-BRITTLE TRANSITIONS
FILMS
FRACTURES
MORPHOLOGY
POLYMERS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SIMULATION
STRAIN RATE
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
THICKNESS
X RADIATION