National Aeronautics and NASA/TP—1999–209263 Space Administration AT01 George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 Multilayer Insulation Material Guidelines M.M. Finckenor Marshall Space Flight Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama D. Dooling D 2 Associates, Huntsville, Alabama April 1999 The NASA STI Program Office…in Profile Since its founding, NASA has been dedicated to • CONFERENCE PUBLICATION. Collected the advancement of aeronautics and space papers from scientific and technical conferences, science. The NASA Scientific and Technical symposia, seminars, or other meetings sponsored Information (STI) Program Office plays a key or cosponsored by NASA. part in helping NASA maintain this important role. • SPECIAL PUBLICATION. Scientific, technical, or historical information from NASA programs, The NASA STI Program Office is operated by projects, and mission, often concerned with Langley Research Center, the lead center for subjects having substantial public interest. NASA’s scientific and technical information. The NASA STI Program Office provides access to the • TECHNICAL TRANSLATION. NASA STI Database, the largest collection of English-language translations of foreign scientific aeronautical and space science STI in the world. The and technical material pertinent to NASA’s Program Office is also NASA’s institutional mission. mechanism for disseminating the results of its research and development activities. These results Specialized services that complement the STI are published by NASA in the NASA STI Report Program Office’s diverse offerings include creating Series, which includes the following report types: custom thesauri, building customized databases, organizing and publishing research results…even • TECHNICAL PUBLICATION. Reports of providing videos. completed research or a major significant phase of research that present the results of NASA For more information about the NASA STI Program programs and include extensive data or Office, see the following: theoretical analysis. Includes compilations of significant scientific and technical data and • Access the NASA STI Program Home Page at information deemed to be of continuing reference http://www.sti.nasa.gov value. NASA’s counterpart of peer-reviewed formal professional papers but has less stringent • E-mail your question via the Internet to limitations on manuscript length and extent of [email protected] graphic presentations. • Fax your question to the NASA Access Help • TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM. Scientific and Desk at (301) 621–0134 technical findings that are preliminary or of specialized interest, e.g., quick release reports, • Telephone the NASA Access Help Desk at (301) working papers, and bibliographies that contain 621–0390 minimal annotation. Does not contain extensive analysis. • Write to: NASA Access Help Desk • CONTRACTOR REPORT. Scientific and NASA Center for AeroSpace Information technical findings by NASA-sponsored 800 Elkridge Landing Road contractors and grantees. Linthicum Heights, MD 21090–2934 NASA/TP—1999–209263 Multilayer Insulation Material Guidelines M.M. Finckenor Marshall Space Flight Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama D. Dooling D2 Associates, Huntsville, Alabama National Aeronautics and Space Administration Marshall Space Flight Center • MSFC, Alabama 35812 April 1999 i Trade Names Trade names are used in this guidebook to illustrate the use of various commercial materials and not to imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. The trade names are the property of the companies listed here. Trade names should be used only to describe specific products, not as generic terms (for example, not all hook-and-pile fasteners are Velcro brand). 3M Co.: Nextel, Scotch Chemfab: Beta cloth E.I. Dupont de Nemours Inc.: Dacron, Kapton, Kevlar, Mylar, Nomex, Nylon, Tedlar, Teflon Kamen Wiping Materials, Inc.: Rymple cloth Texwipe Co.: Alpha 10 wipe Velcro USA, Inc.: Velcro, Hi-Garde Available from: NASA Center for AeroSpace Information National Technical Information Service 800 Elkridge Landing Road 5285 Port Royal Road Linthicum Heights, MD 21090–2934 Springfield, VA 22161 (301) 621–0390 (703) 487–4650 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Scope ........................................................................................................................................ 2 1.2 Purpose ..................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Applicability ............................................................................................................................. 4 2. APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS....................................................................................................... 5 2.1 NASA ....................................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 U.S. Department of Defense .................................................................................................... 5 2.3 Other U.S. Government............................................................................................................ 5 2.4 Other......................................................................................................................................... 6 3. GUIDELINES ................................................................................................................................. 7 3.1 Applicable Documents ............................................................................................................. 7 3.2 Processing ................................................................................................................................ 7 3.3 Materials Traceability .............................................................................................................. 7 4. SELECTION OF MATERIALS ..................................................................................................... 9 4.1 Standard Blanket Layers .......................................................................................................... 9 4.2 Thread Selection....................................................................................................................... 14 4.3 Adhesives ................................................................................................................................. 15 4.4 Adhesive Tape .......................................................................................................................... 16 4.5 Fasteners................................................................................................................................... 18 5. FINISHING ..................................................................................................................................... 22 5.1 Seams ....................................................................................................................................... 22 5.2 Billowing .................................................................................................................................. 23 5.3 Tie Downs ................................................................................................................................ 23 6. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ON MULTILAYER INSULATION ........................................... 24 6.1 Atomic Oxygen ........................................................................................................................ 24 6.2 Ultraviolet Radiation ................................................................................................................ 25 6.3 Meteoroid/Orbital Debris Impacts ...........................................................................................25 6.4 Contamination Control............................................................................................................. 27 6.5 Outgassing................................................................................................................................ 27 6.6 Plasma Effects .......................................................................................................................... 27 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 7. OTHER CONCERNS ..................................................................................................................... 28 7.1 Electrical Bonding and Grounding .......................................................................................... 28 7.2 Installation Requirements ........................................................................................................ 28 7.3 Venting Requirements .............................................................................................................. 29 7.4 Cutouts or Protrusions.............................................................................................................. 30 7.5 Storage ..................................................................................................................................... 30 7.6 Repair ....................................................................................................................................... 30 7.7 Other Hazards .........................................................................................................................