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Carbon Fiber Reinforced Rigidizable Space Structures

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Stephen Andrew Sarles
Affiliation:
sarles@vt.edu, Virginia Tech, Mechanical Engineering, 310 Durham Hall, CIMSS M/C 261, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24060, United States, 540-231-2902, 540-231-2903
Todd Bullions
Affiliation:
tbullion@vt.edu, Virginia Tech, Chemistry, United States
Thompson Mefford
Affiliation:
mefford@vt.edu, Virginia Tech, Chemistry, United States
Judy Riffle
Affiliation:
Judyriffle@aol.com, Virginia Tech, Chemistry
Don Leo
Affiliation:
donleo@vt.edu, Virginia Tech, Mechanical Engineering, United States
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Abstract

In attempts to provide an active solution for the rigidization of flexible space structures, internal resistive heating is applied to a novel thermosetting resin. Carbon-fiber tow coated in U-Nyte Set 201A, which cures at ∼150°C, was heated by passing electric current through the reinforcing material. Using a proportional-integral (PI) controller, precise temperature control of the heating process was established. Samples cured via controlled internal resistive heating were heated to 160°C and underwent material consolidation in less than 7 minutes. A change in material stiffness was measured to be almost two orders of magnitude greater than that of an uncured material.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

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References

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