SIMULATED SPACE ENVIRONMENTAL-EFFECTS ON A POLYETHERIMIDE AND ITS CARBON-FIBER-REINFORCED COMPOSITES

The selection of materials for spacecraft construction requires identi fication of candidate materials which can perform reliably in the spac e environment. Understanding the effects of the space environment on t he materials is an important step in the selection of candidate materi als. This work examines the effects of energetic electrons, thermal cy cling, electron radiation in conjunction with thermal cycling, and ato mic oxygen on a thermoplastic polyetherimide and its carbon-fiber-rein forced composites. Composite materials made with non-sized fibers as w ell as materials made with fibers sized with an epoxy were evaluated. The mechanical and thermomechanical properties of the materials were s tudied and spectroscopic techniques were used to investigate the mecha nisms for the observed effects. Considerations for future material dev elopment are suggested.