Natural Fibres Threaded Into Satellites for Safer Missions 14 October 2020

Natural fibres threaded into satellites for safer missions 14 October 2020

A strong yet light material, CFRP resembles reinforced concrete, where steel bars are added to a concrete mix in order to strengthen it. In a parallel manner, carbon fibers are mixed with epoxy resin to achieve a higher strength-to-weight ratio and rigidity. The resulting composite is used widely in satellite manufacturing, as well as the high- performance automotive and maritime sectors.

"The idea behind this Bio-Composite Structure in Space Applications project was to investigate the use of natural fibers in place of their carbon equivalents," explains ESA structural engineer Tiziana Cardone.

Credit: CSIRO

A natural fiber that once wrapped early Egyptian mummies and was worn by Roman aristocrats has found a space-age purpose. Threading fibers from the flax plant through satellite panel material can help space missions burn up more rapidly during atmospheric reentry—making their disposal safer for people and property on the ground. This flax-containing biocomposite satellite panel is a test version of a lateral structural panel for the Copernicus ESA's detailed testing of this natural-fiber Sentinel-1 satellite – which aboard the actual mission has composite has helped it find wider terrestrial uses been made from aluminium. Credit: Bcomp in turn, including inside McLaren Racing's Formula 1 cars.

Fibers from the flax plant, cultivated in Europe "There are two main reasons why: firstly to reduce since the Stone Age, are weaved to make linen. the environmental impacts of space manufacturing, An ESA project with Swiss companies Bcomp and which is one of the main goals of ESA's Clean RUAG looked into substituting them for carbon Space initiative. Our detailed Life Cycle Analysis fibers, which are employed to make leading shows this can cut carbon dioxide emissions by up composite material 'carbon fiber reinforced plastic' to 75% compared to matching carbon fiber parts. (CFRP).

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"In addition, in another link to Clean Space, we've was made from aluminum. been seeking out novel materials that can 'demise' more easily, meaning they can burn up more "These panels are designed as 'targeted demisable rapidly and completely during atmospheric reentry. points' for the satellite, intended to break up early to This has been driven in turn by the requirements of allow heat fluxes into the satellite interior earlier Europe's space debris mitigation policy, requiring a than would otherwise be the case," adds Tommaso less than 1 in 10 000 risk to people or property Ghidini. Heading ESA's Structures, Mechanisms when satellites are disposed of at their end of life." and Materials Division.

The project, led by ESA's Structures section and "The next step was to put these remade panels to supported through the Agency's General Support the test in as realistic manner as possible, using a Technology Programme, involved examining the plasma wind tunnel at the Institute of Space flax fibers in terms of the highly demanding Systems, IRS in Stuttgart, Germany. The IRS requirements of spaceflight. worked with ESA's Materials section to develop the demisability test procedure." "We found that they have exceptionally low thermal expansion—which is good in terms of the he resulting baptism of fire showed a positive result temperature extremes of orbital space—as well as compared to traditional CFRP: while carbon fiber high specific stiffness, and strength which can be strands tend to endure in place while their retained right down to cryogenic temperatures," surrounding matrix is burnt away, the flax fibers says ESA materials and processes specialist Ugo ablate apart much more rapidly. Lafont. "They are also able damp down vibration well, can endure ultraviolet radiation exposure and impede radio signals much less than carbon fibers."

Flax-based biocomposite structural panels were tested Bcomp natural flax fibres laid down in epoxy, exposed to for demisability in simulated reentry conditions using a a plasma wind tunnel to simulate atmospheric reentry plasma wind tunnel at the Institute of Space Systems, conditions, testing their 'demisability'. Testing took place IRS, in Stuttgart, Germany. Credit: IRS at the Institute of Space Systems, IRS, in Stuttgart Germany. IRS worked with ESA’s Materials section to develop the demisability test procedure. Credit: ESA

The project team took Bcomp's patented thin-shell 'powerRib' natural-fiber composites as their starting point, using them to make a test version of a lateral The project's detailed characterisation of Bcomp's structural panel for the Copernicus Sentinel-1 natural fiber composite also led to it finding new satellite—which in the case of the actual mission terrestrial customers: Sweden's Volta Trucks firm is

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using the composite for weight-saving and more environmentally friendly body panels.

McLaren Racing meanwhile has collaborated with Bcomp to manufacture Formula 1's first natural fiber composite racing seat. Possessing improved vibration-damping properties to a traditional CFRP seat, the new material also offers wider safety possibilities –carbon fibers are notorious for splintering during accidents, puncturing whe

"We're a small team, and working with ESA has taught us a lot," adds Régis Voillat of Bcomp, "which we've been able to apply in turn to a lot of our other projects. So this collaboration has supported the spread of sustainable technologies to other sectors as well."

Provided by European Space Agency APA citation: Natural fibres threaded into satellites for safer missions (2020, October 14) retrieved 30 September 2021 from https://phys.org/news/2020-10-natural-fibres-threaded-satellites-safer.html

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