UV Rigidized Carbon-Reinforced Isogrid Boom for Gossamer Applications

摘要

This work examined the feasibility of curing carbon fiber-reinforced open isogrid structures using sunlight. An orbital thermal analysis was conducted for these Gossamer structures with no insulation to determine the temperature profiles during the cure process. An epoxy-based resin was developed that showed near complete cure on carbon and hybrid carbon/glass tows and also cured at low temperatures. Demonstration hardware cured in sunlight and tested in compression to failure performed as well as similar thermally cured isogrid composites.