The Non-Metallic Materials Sample Array (MSA) was flown as verification flight instrumentation (VFI) on both Spacelab 1 (SL-1) and Spacelab 2 (SL-2). The basis for materials selection was either previous flight history or probable flight suitability based upon analysis. The observed changes in the optical properties of the exposed materials are, in general, quite minimal; however, this data represents the short exposure of two Space Shuttle missions, and no attempt should be made to extrapolate the long-term exposure. The MSA was in orbit for 10 days at approximately 240 km on SL-1 and for 7 days at approximately 315 km on SL-2. The array was exposed to the solar flux for only a portion of the time in orbit

Goldberg, B. E.

King, H. M.

Webb, D. D.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

NASA 
Technical 
Memorandum 
NASA TM - 86578 
, 
(NASA-2E-66575) I R E  N C N - M E 3 A L L I C  MATERIALS N87-70910 
SBBPLE A E R A Y  ( N A S A )  20 p CSCL 71u 
Unclas 
G3/27 43851 
National Aeronautics and 
Space Ad ministration 
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center 
THE NON-METALLIC MATERIALS SAMPLE ARRAY 
By H .  M .  King, D. D .  Webb, and B .  E .  Goldberg 
Materials and Processes Laboratory 
Science and Engineering Directorate 
December 1986 
MSFC - Form 3190 (Rev. May 1983) 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19870007477 2020-03-20T12:50:18+00:00Z
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
Figure 
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 
Title Page 
SL-2 pallet view C-C ................................................. 
MSA diagram and sample location guide for SL-1 ...................... 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
MSA diagram and sample location guide for SL-2. ..................... 
MSA SL- 1 preflight configuration ..................................... 
MSA SL- 2 preflight configuration ..................................... 
PJSA SL-2 post flight ................................................. 
MSA SL-2 post flight ................................................. 
LIST OF TABLES 
Table Title Page 
11 
1 2  
13  
13 
14 
1. 
2. 
"B" Sample Optical Properties ....................................... 
"A" Sample Optical Properties ....................................... 
3. Miscellaneous Optical Properties. ..................................... 
4. Transfer Tunnel Flex Section.. ...................................... 
5. Visual Observations of Samples, Post SL-1.. ......................... 
iv 
TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM 
THE NON-METALLIC MATERIAL SAMPLE ARRAY 
INTRODUCTION 
This report provides the results of the evaluation of material specimens exposed 
to the cargo bay environment during Spacelab (SL) missions 1 and 2. 
specimens were mounted on the Non-Metallic Materials Sample Array (MSA), DWG . 
42A40015, and exposed to the ambient flight environment at a location near the right- 
hand pallet sill just forward of the cargo bay aft bulkhead (Fig. 1). 
an article of GFE provided to satisfy a portion of the materials performance evaluation 
requirements during the Spacelab Verification Test Program. 
The material 
The ISIISA was 
EXPERIMENTAL 
The MSA (Figs. 2 and 3) was a 4-f t  by 1-ft package, housing test samples 
representing three modes for performance evaluation. The majority of the rrA1r samples 
and the rrCrr sample on SL-2 were equipped with temperature transducers; IrBrl samples 
were designed for pre- and post-flight optical properties measurements ; r?C1r samples 
represent transfer tunnel flex section materials and multilayer insulation and are 
suited for pre- and post-flight evaluations. 
Post -flight optical properties and visual observations were recorded upon 
receipt of the array at MSFC. 
the two missions. 
The Deft 023-GW-3 (A-17  and B-09)  had been flown uninstrumented on SL-1 but was 
not flown on SL-2 because the material was no longer commercially available - instead 
A- 17 and B- 09 positions were reflown with Chemglaze 2302 overcoated with RTV670. 
This combination was selected to evaluate the effectiveness of the silicone top coat 
(RTV 670) to protect the 2302 from atomic oxygen attack. 
son A13 position was reflown with Chemglaze 2302 coating without a topcoat of sili- 
cone. The rubber system flown on SL-1 in the A13 position was not of sufficient 
interest to justify a second mission. The only other change between missions was 
that the systems tunnel flex section (Sample C )  was instrumented with a temperature 
transducer. 
There were minor differences in the array as flown on 
Samples A-13, A-17, and B-09 were changed between missions. 
For purposes of compari- 
The optical properties data gleaned from the MSA are summarized in Tables 1 
through 3. 
prepared simultaneously with the flight samples and stored in dust-proof containers 
in an area devoid of light, natural or artificial. 
Data from samples identified as controls represent duplicate specimens 
The physical properties data for the transfer tunnel flux section material is 
presented in Table 4. 
Rubber Co., the manufacturer of the flex section material (Nomex reinforced Viton) . This data was generated by both MSFC and the Goodyear 
The summary of the visual inspection is given in Table 5 for Mission SL-1. The 
post SL-2 examination showed no visible differences from SL-1. The RTV 670 over- 
coated Chemglaze 2302 was degraded more than expected. 
D I S CU S S ION 
The Non-Metallic Materials Sample Array (MSA) was successfully flown on SL- 1 
and SL- 2 missions. Observations after each flight showed degradation of selected 
materials, specifically Chemglaze I1 A276, 3M 425 tape, Chemglaze 2306, Chemglaze 
2302, Chemical Conversion Coating , and Aluminized Kapton tape. In general , exposed 
surfaces degraded to some extent due to both atomic oxygen attack and UV 
degradation. 
The Chemglaze II-A276 appears to have suffered selective UV degradation on 
the retainer plate (Part No.  42A 40017) regions which had pre-flight contact with a 
silicone rubber seal which was part of the non-flight MSA cover. The selective 
yellowing and the maintenance of surface gloss, characteristic of UV rather than 
atomic oxygen degradation, was also noted on regions of sample disks adjacent to the 
gap in the sample retaining rings. 
off-gassing products from the silicone foam cushion underneath each disk. 
This gap appears to function as a vent for the 
The off-gassing products from the silicone foam are not stable against U V  
The extent to which this yellowing contributed to the 
degradation, as evidenced by the yellowing observed in the "vent zone" of the 2-93 
and S-13GLO specimens. 
observed yellowing of Chemglaze A-276 on the retainer plate could not be determined. 
The A-276 coating is known to be susceptible to UV degradation (yellowing) from 
ground test and previous flight results. The yellowed, glossy regions of the retainer 
plate were unchanged after the second mission (SL-2). 
Thermal data from each disk was recorded in an attempt to determine the kinetics 
of the degradation. 
to the time of change was possible. 
Due to the minimal changes in optical properties, no correlation 
The Chemglaze coatings A-276, 2-302, and 2-306, and 3M 401-C10, and the 
exposed Kapton side of the aluminized Kapton tape exhibited the typical effect of 
atomic oxygen attack , loss of surface gloss and/or change in visual appearance. 
These effects were produced during SL-1; the second mission (SL-2) produced little 
change. 
Data from the Multilayer Insulation (MLI) and transfer tunnel flex section show 
little effects other than superficial yellowing of the R?LI and loss of gloss of the flex 
tunnel section. 
CONCLUSIONS 
The observed changes in optical properties are quite minimal and do not indicate 
gross contamination from the Spacelab hardware or experiments nor from the payload 
bay. The contamination from the silicone material used incidentally in the MSA hard- 
ware amply demonstrates the local contamination effects possible from materials which 
comply with the general outgassing requirements for Shuttle payloads. The experi- 
mental coating hybrid of Chemglaze 2302 overcoated with a clear silicone, RTV670, 
confirm the hypothesis that silicones can inhibit the effects of atomic oxygen on 
underlying coatings. 
2 
Analysis of the optical properties data indicates the short duration of exposure 
The significance of the data must be determined for the coating of interest 
to be generally insufficient for conclusive quantifying of space effects on these coating 
systems. 
in conjucntion with other flight histories - the MSA experience cannot stand alone. 
Data from the Multilayer Insulation (MLI) and systems tunnel flex section reveal 
only superficial effects of the cargo bay environment on these materials. 
In summary, the Non-Metallic Katerials Sample Array (PLSA) was flown success- 
fully as Verification Flight Instrumentation on SL-1 and SL-2. 
gathered on many coating systems; however, the short duration of exposure to the 
space environment limits the usefulness of the data. 
cautious ; other flight histories must be considered when selecting a candidate coating 
for the Shuttle cargo bay environment ; the MSA data is not definitive. 
Valuable data was 
Users of this data must be 
I 
I 
I 
\ 
\ 
I 
I 
I 
a 
a 
\ 
\ 
a 
1 
I 
\ I :  -- 
0 -  
0- 
/- 
I 
1 
4 
"A" Samples Samp 1 e s 
Retainer  P l a t e  
Mat er i a l  
2-93 
S- 13GLO 
Chemglaze I1 -A276 
Chemglaze 2-306 
Chemglaze 2-302 
Anodiz e 
Chemical Conversion Coating 
Deft 023-GW-3 
Tedlar  Laminate 
S i l v e r i z e d  Teflon (Sheldahl  G 400300) 
Aluminized Tape Kapton 
Aluminized Tape (3M 425) 
S i l i c o n e  Rubber (RA 38250) 
B-Cloth/MSFC Light  Block 
B-Cloth/JSC Light  Block 
B-Cloth/No Light  Block 
Transfer  Tunnel Flex Sec t ion  
Mult i - layer  I n s u l a t i o n  
3M 401-C10 
Sample P o s i t  ion  
01 
02 
04 
05 
06 
03 
07 
08 
1 7  
09 
10 
12  
11 
13 
14 
15 
16 
01 
02,14 
03,10,7 
04,18 
05 
06,16 
07 
08 
09 
13 
11 
15 
12 
- 
- 
- 
- 
X 
X 
Figure 2 .  &(SA diagram and sample location guide for SL-1. 
5 
Material 
2-93 
S- 13GLO 
Chemglaze I1 -A276 
Chemglaze 2-306 
Chemglaze 2-302 
Anodize 
Chemical Conversion Coating 
Chemglaze 2302 
Tedlar Laminat e 
Silverized Teflon (Sheldahl G 400300) 
Aluminized Tape Kapton 
Aluminized Tape (3M 425) 
Chemglaze Z302/RTV670 
B-Cloth/MSFC Light Block 
B-Cloth/JSC Light Block 
B-Cloth/No Light Block 
3M 401-C10 
Transfer Tunnel F l e x  Section 
Multi-layer Insulation 
A 
01 
02 
04 
05 
06 
03 
07 
08 
17 
09 
10 
12 
11 
13 
14 
15 
16 
- 
Sample Pos i t ion  
C - B - 
01 
02,14 
03,10,7 
04,18 
05 
06,16 
07 
08 
09 
13 
11 
15 
12 
X 
X 
Figure 3 .  USA diagram and sample location guide for S L - 2 .  
OR168NAL PAGE .IS 
OF POOR QUALITY 
8 
ORIGINAL PAGE .I3 
OF POOR QUALm 
. I  
9 
i 
b 
TABLE 1.. "B" SAMPLE OPTICAL PROPERTIES* 
I'IU- VI, 1 ( : I u  1'OS'l'- 1: I I I (: II'r (s1.- 1 ) "S'r -PI. LGl1'1' ( s I,- 2 ) 
MATERIAL a a a 
293 0.16 0.16 0.15 
S13GLO 0.18 0.18 0.19 
Cow ROL 
a SAMPLE 
B O 1  
BO2 
BO3 
BO4 
BO5 
BO6 
BO7 
BO8 
0.16 
0.18 
IIA276 0.25 0.25 0.21 0.25 
2306 0.95 0.99 0.99 0.95 
2302 0.95 0.98 0.97 0.95 
401C10 0 .97  0.98 0.99 0.97 
Anodize 0.41 0.41 0.40 0.41 
Conversion 0.42 
Coating 
0.40 0.40 0.42 
BO9 
B10 
B 1 1  
Deft  0.69 0.68 - 0.69 
0.25 
0.06 
IIA276 0.25 0.25 0.25 
S i l v e r i z e d  0.06 0.06 
Teflon 
0.06 
B12 425 Aluminized 0.21 
T n p t  
0.17 0.17 0.21 
U13 'red Inr 
Laminate 
0 . 2 4  0 . 2 4  0.26 0.24 
B14 
B15 
S13GLO 0.19 0.19 0.19 0.19 
0 . 3 3  Aluminized 0.33 
Kapton 
0.44 0.43 
B16 
B17 
B 1 8  
401C10 0.97 0.98 0.98 0.97 
0.25 
0.96 
IIA276 0.26 0.25 0.27 
2306 0.96 0.98 0.99 
*'Data from Beckman DK2A Spectrophotometer with Gier-Dunkle I n t e g r a t i n g  Sphere 
11 
SAMPLE 
A0 1 
A02 
A03 
A04 
A0 5 
*A0 6
A07 
A08 
A09 
A1 0 
A1 1 
A1 2 
A13 
A14 
A15 
A16 
A1 7 
MATERIAL 
TABLE 2 .  "A" SAMPLE OPTICAL PROPERTIES* 
293 
S13GLO 
401C10 
IIA276 
2306 
2302 
Anod iz e 
Conversion 
Coat 
Tedlar 
Laminate 
Silverized 
Teflon 
425 Tape 
Aluminized 
Kapton 
Silicone 
Rubber 
B-Cloth ASS'Y 
MSFC L.B. 
B-Cloth ASS'Y 
JSC L.B. 
B-Cloth ASS'Y 
Deft Primer 
PRE-FLIGHT 
E 
0.92 
0.92 
0.91 
0.90 
0.91 
0.90 
0.82 
0.07 
POST-FLIGHT (SL-1) POST-FLIGHT (SL-2) 
F 
0.91 
0.90 
0.91 
0.89 
0.93 
0.90 
0.92 
0.07 
0.91 
0.89 
0.90 
0.88 
0.92 
0.90 
0.82 
0.06 
0.91 0.90 0.90 
0.68 0.65 0.65 
0.03 
0.54 
0.03 
0.50 
0.03 
0.53 
0.90 0.91 - 
0.91 0.90 0.90 
0.90 0.90 0.90 
0.90 
- 
0.90 
0.87 
* 
Data from Portable Instrumentation - Gier-Dunkle DB200 
0.90 
- 
CONTROL 
E 
0.91 
0.90 
0.90 
0.89 
0.91 
0.90 
0.82 
0.08 
0.90 
0.66 
0.03 
0.51 
0.91 
0.90 
0.90 
0.90 
0.67 
12 
TABLE 3.  XISCELLANEOUS OPTICAL 
PRE-FL IGHT POST SL-1 
a E a -- SAMPLE - 
Sec t ion  C 
ML I 0.21 0.90 0.22 
Flex Sec t ion  
Exposed 0.93 0.88 0.95 
Flex Sec t ion  
Shielded 0.93 0.88 0.93 
A13 
(Chemglaze 2302) 0.94 0.90 - 
(Chemglaze 23021 0.93 0.91 - 
A 1  7 
RTV 7 60 ) 
BO9 
( C hemg l a z e  2 3 02 / 0.96 - - 
RTV760) 
E - 
0.90 
0.88 
0.88 
- 
- 
- 
PROPERTIES* 
POST SL-2 
a - 
0.22 
0.94 
0.92 
0.94 
0.93 
0.97 
E: - 
0.90 
0.88 
0.88 
0.90 
0.91 
- 
* 
Data p r i m a r i l y  from p o r t a b l e  instrumentat ion 
a G i e r  Dunkle MS251 
E Gier Dunkle DB200 
TABLE 4 .  TRANSFER TUNNEL FLEX SECTION 
- Physical  Data - 
MSFC DATA 
Weight Change 
Thickness Change 
Shore Hardness "C I' 
SEM R e s u l t s  
GOODYEAR DATA * 
Hardness ("Shore A") 
Sec t ion  A Sec t ion  B 
(Exposed) (Shielded)  
- 0- -0- 
- 0- -0- 
70 72 
Sur face  roughening of exposed 
s e c t  i on  
CONTROL 
a E -- 
0.22 0.90 
0.93 0.88 
0.93 0.88 
0.95 0.90 
0.95 0.91 
0.96 - 
Sec t ion  C 
(Control)  
-0- 
- 0- 
68 
t unne l  
Control  Exposed Shielded 
90 93 S8 
T e n s i l e  ( l b s / i n )  1068 1143  1088 
*This d a t a  was obtained cour t e sy  of McDonnell Douglas Aerospace Corporation - 
Huntsv i l l e .  
1 3  
TABLE 5 .  VISUAL OBSERVATIONS OF SAMPLES, POST S L - 1  
OBSERVATIONS MATERIAL 
293 
S 13GLO 
Chemglaze 
IIA276 
V i s i b l e  yellowing i n  vent  zone 
V i s i b l e  yellowing i n  vent  zone 
Yellowing i n  s i l i c o n e  contaminated reg ions .  The 
normally g los sy  coa t ing  changes t o  Lambertian i n  
r eg ions  not  contaminated wi th  s i l i c o n e .  
No change i n  s i l i c o n e  contaminated r eg ions .  The 
remaining s u r f a c e  area was Lambertian,  c o n s i s t e n t  
w i th  expected atomic oxygen a t t a c k .  
No change i n  s i l i c o n e  contaminated reg ions ;  t h e  
remaining s u r f a c e  area w a s  Lambertian.  Extreme 
degrada t ion  of specu la r  r e f l e c t a n c e  was noted .  
Apparent darkening of t h e  e n t i r e  s u r f a c e .  
s i l i c o n e  e f f e c t  noted.  
No 
Chemglaz e 
2306 
Chemg 1 az e 
2302 
3M 401-C10 
No v i s i b l e  changes noted .  Anodize 
Var iab le  changes i n  c o l o r a t i o n ;  t h e  ma jo r i ty  of the 
s a m p l e  appeared t o  have l o s t  coa t ing .  
Chemical Conversion 
Coating 
Var iab le  changes i n  c o l o r a t i o n ;  t h e  r eg ions  away from 
t h e  vent  zone appeared t o  have l o s t  coa t ing  t h i c k n e s s .  
Degradation does no t  appear c r i t i c a l  t o  usage i n  non- 
o p t i c a l l y - c r i t i c a l  a r e a s .  
D e f t  023-GW3 
Yellowing i n  t h e  s i l i c o n e  vent  zone; i n  a d d i t i o n ,  t h e  
remainder of t h e  s u r f a c e  a r e a  w a s  greyed. 
Tedlar  Laminate 
No v i s i b l e  changes noted.  S i lve r i zed  Teflon 
No change i n  s i l i c o n e  contaminated reg ions ;  t h e  
remaining s u r f a c e  area w a s  Lambertian. 
Aluminized T a p e  
Kapton 
S l i g h t  d i s c o l o r a t i o n  425  Aluminized Tape 
No changes S i l i c o n e  Rubber 
B-Cloth/MSFC 
Light  Block No s i g n i f i c a n t  changes 
No s i g n i f i c a n t  changes B-ClothIJSC 
Light  Block 
No s i g n i f i c a n t  changes B-Clo t h h  
Light  Block 
S l i g h t  yellowing of exposed s i d e  
N o  change i n  sh i e lded  s i d e ;  t h e  exposed s i d e  
w a s  Lambertian. Scanning E lec t ron  Microscopy 
a t  lOOOX i n d i c a t e s  a roughening of t h e  s u r f a c e  
of t h e  exposed t r a n s f e r  tunnel  material .  
MLI 
Transfer  Tunnel 
14 
I 
APPROVAL 
THE NON-RSETALLIC MATERIALS SAMPLE ARRAY I 
By H .  M. King, D. D. Webb, and B .  E. Goldberg 
The information in this report has been reviewed for technical content. 
of any information concerning Department of Defense or nuclear energy activities or 
programs has been made by the MSFC Security Classification Officer. This report, 
in its entirety, has been determined to be unclassified. 
Review 
sses Laboratory 
15 
1. REPORT NO. 2. GOVERNMNT ACCESSION NO. 
NASA TM-86578 
4. T I T L E  AND SUBTITLE 
Non-Metallic Materials Sample Array 
3. RECIPIENT'S CATALOG NO. 
5. REPORT DATE 
I 
7. AUTHOR(S) I 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPOR r # 
H. M. King, D. D. Webb, and B .  E. Goldberg 
9. PERFORMING ORCANIZATtON NAME AND ADDRESS 1 0 .  WORK UNIT NO. 
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center 
Marshall Space Flight Center , Alabama 35812 
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS 
- 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
Washington , D .C . 20546 
1 1 .  CONTRACT OR GRANT NO. 
13 .  TYPE O F  REPOR;' & PERIOD COVEREC 
Technical Memorandum 
1.1. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE 
19. SECURITY CLASSIF. (d thle rmport) 20. SECURITY CLASSIF. (or tum p.pe) 2 1 .  NO. OF PAGES 
Unclassified Unclassified 20 
I 
15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 
Prepared by Materials and Processes Laboratory , Science and Engineering Directorate. 
22. PRICE 
NTIS 
The Non-Metallic Materials Sample Array (MSA) was flown as verification flight 
The basis instrumentation (VFI) on both Spacelab 1 (SL-1) and Spacelab 2 (SL-2). 
for materials selection was either previous flight history or  probable flight suitability 
based upon analysis. 
The observed changes in the optical properties of the exposed materials are, in 
general, quite minimal; however, this data represents the short exposure of two 
Space Shuttle missions, and no attempt should be made to extrapolate the long-term 
exposure. 
The MSA was in orbit for 10 days at approximately 240 k m  on SL-1 and for 
7 days at approximately 315 km on SL-2. 
for only a portion of the time in orbit. 
The array was exposed to the solar flux 
17. K E t  WORDS 18.  DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT 
Thermal Control 
Space Environment Unclassified - Unlimited 


The non-metallic materials sample array

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