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Synthesis, Optical Performance Characterization, and Durability of Electrospun PTFE-PEO Materials for Space
Chieloka Ibekwe1, Xuanjie Wang1, Brandon Nicholas Bolzani1
1Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, United States.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|May 21, 2024
Summary
New polymer nanofibers offer superior passive thermal control for spacecraft. Electrospun poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and poly(ethylene oxide) fibers achieve ultra-high solar reflectance, reducing reliance on active cooling systems for space missions.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Aerospace Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Passive thermal management is critical for spacecraft longevity and operational efficiency.
- Effective thermal control materials minimize power consumption from active cooling systems.
- Wavelength-dependent optical properties are key for managing solar radiation and enabling radiative cooling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize advanced polymer nanofibers for passive thermal control in space applications.
- To investigate the relationship between electrospinning process parameters and nanofiber properties.
- To evaluate the solar reflectance and thermal emittance of fabricated materials for space suitability.
Main Methods:
- Electrospinning of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) polymer blends.
- Controlled variation of solution properties, flow rate, collector speed, and fabrication time.
- Spectrophotometric measurement of spectral reflectance, absorptance, and transmittance using integrating spheres.
- Durability testing under ultraviolet light and atomic oxygen exposure.
Main Results:
- Fabricated electrospun nanofiber materials (220-1560 μm thick) achieved average solar reflectance of 94.73-99.75%.
- Thicker samples approached solar reflectance values of 99.9%, among the highest reported for space applications.
- A 3360 μm thick sample exhibited a thermal emittance of 81.4% at 300 K.
- Materials demonstrated durability under UV and atomic oxygen exposure.
Conclusions:
- Electrospun PTFE-PEO nanofibers represent a novel and highly effective solution for passive thermal management in space.
- The developed materials offer superior solar reflectance compared to existing state-of-the-art options.
- This technology has the potential to significantly enhance spacecraft efficiency and mission capabilities.
