Fabric knitted on conventional knitting machines uses commercially available yarns, has high aerodynamic drag capability, and is relatively inexpensive. The two yarn components used are 15-denier nylon monofilament and aluminized Mylar tape

Matthews, F. R.

White, E.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

I 
Septeniher 1971	 Brief 71-10342 
.
	
NASA TECH BRIEF 
Langley Research Center
	 W 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a aubscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
NASA-Tricot: A Lightweight, Radar Reflective, Knitted Fabric 
Figure 1. 
A new fabric, knitted on conventional knitting 
machines using commercially available yarns, is 
radar reflective and extremely lightweight, and has 
a high aerodynamic drag capability. Previously, the 
availability of suitably fine meshes for typical high-
altitude (80 to 100 km) decelerator canopies was 
severely limited by fabrication problems. A number 
of fabrication concepts including gluing, punching, 
slicing, milling, weaving, and knitting were investi-
gated, but the technology was essentially limited to 
punched or glued Mylar tape meshes produced in 
small quantities at relatively high cost. The new fabric, 
however, can be produced in large quantity at 
relatively low cost. 
The two yarn components used in NASA-Tricot 
are 15-denier nylon monofilament and aluminized 
Mylar tape (Lurex TE 100). The nylon monofilament 
is 38ni (1.5 mils) in diameter. The Lurex tape is 
I .3ni (0. 5 mu) thick and 20p ni (10 mils) ' ide.
Figure 2. 
The Lurex is coated on both sides with aluminum 
400 A thick; the aluminum is in turn covered with 
a chemically resistant coating which is more than 
400 A thick. 
The basic shape of the elements making up the 
mesh fabric is triangular (see Figures I and 2), with 
side lengths of approximately 3 mm. The NASA-
Tricot is a circular knit mesh fabricated as a con-
tinuous, seamless cylinder which may be split 
to form a continuous sheet. Nominal weight is 
5 gm/m 2 , and the drag-producing efficiency has been 
established through studies based on Stoke's law. 
Note: 
Requests for further information maybe directed 
to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Langley Research Center 
Hampton, Virginia 23365 
Reference: 137 1-10342 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19710000340 2020-03-17T02:28:27+00:00Z
Patent status: 
Inquiries about obtaining rights for the commercial 
use of this invention may be made to: 
Patent Counsel 
Mail Code 173 
Langley Research Center 
Langley Station 
Hampton, Virginia 23365 
Source: E. White and F. Mathews

Langley Research Center

(LA R- 10776)
is 
LI 
Brief 71-10342
Category 04


NASA-tricot - A lightweight radar reflective, knitted fabric

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