investigation of potential applications challenges and study of feasibility aspects of innovative usage of nano composites for spacecraft payload components

Abstract

quotSpace payloads are designed to be lightweight to sustain extreme environmental conditions for years together without any failure. For future interplanetary missions to have inexpensive launches, advanced materials like Carbon Fiber Reinforce Polymers (CFRP), HF31, CE7, Kevlar, etc. having low density, high strength and high specific stiffness are required. Composite material such as Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) offers considerable mass saving and high specific stiffness, but in recent years, an increment of the power for the payload requirements has created a need for this composite with enhanced thermal and electrical conductivity. This results in limited use of CFRP as a space payload component. To eliminate this and to improve the performance, the application of Nano reinforcement in this composite is required. Several Nano-fillers, such as Graphene and Carbon Nanotube (CNT) are efficient to enhance greater Mechanical, Thermal and Electrical properties, provided they meet the criteria of being well dispersed in the Polymer matrix. CNT CFRP composite usage opens new horizons for Space industries like ISRO, JAXA and NASA. This composite can replace the traditional space materials with high density like Kovar and Invar. newlineThe quality of the Nano-fillers embedded CFRP composite relies upon several parameters such as the types of CNTs like Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTs), Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs), or Reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO), its purity, aspect ratio, amount of loading and interfacial adhesion between the fillers and polymer. The performance of this Nano Composite depends on the successful execution of the processing technique and dispersion of Nano fillers in thermosetting resin and carbon fibre layers. These parameters govern the properties of composites. It is challenging to fabricate an apt Nano Composite that can qualify for Space applications. newlineSWCNTs, MWCNTs and rGOs with variable percentages of weight are dispersed into epoxy to fabricate CNT-CFRP samples by solution mixing met