JSME International Journal Series A Solid Mechanics and Material Engineering
Online ISSN : 1347-5363
Print ISSN : 1344-7912
ISSN-L : 1344-7912
PAPERS
The Space Exposure Experiment of PEEK Sheets under Tensile Stress
Takashi NAKAMURAHiroshi NAKAMURAOsamu FUJITAToru NOGUCHIKichiro IMAGAWA
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2004 Volume 47 Issue 3 Pages 365-370

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Abstract

To find out the degradation behavior of polymer in the real space, space exposure experiments utilizing the International Space Station (ISS) were scheduled. PEEK sheets under tensile stresses were exposed to the environment around the ISS orbit, and were irradiated by atomic oxygen (AO), ultraviolet ray, and electron beam (EB) in the ground test facility. This study introduces the outline of these experiments, and shows the results of AO and EB pilot irradiation tests as follows: (1) Test piece surfaces after AO exposure exhibited significant morphological damages characterized by micron-sized conical pits. (2) Thickness reductions of the test pieces by AO exposure increased with increasing tensile stress. (3) Residual strength after AO exposure could be estimated by taking account of thickness reduction. (4) No significant change was observed on surface morph, mass, chemical structure, and tensile properties of the test pieces after EB exposure regardless of tensile stress.

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© 2004 by The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
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