Register now After registration you will be able to apply for this opportunity online.
This opportunity is not published. No applications will be accepted.
Investigations on Ultra-Thin Carbon Fiber-PEEK Composites for Foldable Space Structures
This thesis deals with the manufacturing of deployable space structure architectures from novel Carbon-Fiber reinforced PEEK material. The properties of the material need to be investigated with regard to foldability, and novel ways to manufacture space structure architectures have to be found.
Keywords: Space Structures, Foldable Structures, Thermoplastic Composites, PEEK, Ultra-thin Composites
Due to their high specific strength and stiffness, fiber reinforced structures are commonly used in high-performance applications. Their ability to be manufac-tured in thicknesses below 100μm makes them espe-cially interesting in the field of deployable structures.
Modern deployable structures are mainly used for the folding and deployment of satellites to reduce the stowage volume in a launcher vehicle. Current thermo-set solutions have major difficulties in accurate manu-facturing, transverse strength and layup design. A thermoplastic solutions for such structures made from space-qualified polymers, will drastically improve these problems, providing the possibility to be weld-ed, annealed and showing higher toughness and better fiber-matrix interface.
Recent investigations on thermoplastic thin-ply com-posites at CMASLab have shown promising results in manufacturing the material. The material is promising to be a game-changer in spacecraft structure design. However, many factors that come with thermoplastic composites have to be investigated. This covers es-pecially the fields of crystallinity, annealing, weld-ing/sintering and their influence on the mechanical properties. Additionally these fields can be used to very efficiently manufacture foldable structure architec-tures, which are currently only manufacturaable with great effort with thermoset matrix systems.
Due to their high specific strength and stiffness, fiber reinforced structures are commonly used in high-performance applications. Their ability to be manufac-tured in thicknesses below 100μm makes them espe-cially interesting in the field of deployable structures. Modern deployable structures are mainly used for the folding and deployment of satellites to reduce the stowage volume in a launcher vehicle. Current thermo-set solutions have major difficulties in accurate manu-facturing, transverse strength and layup design. A thermoplastic solutions for such structures made from space-qualified polymers, will drastically improve these problems, providing the possibility to be weld-ed, annealed and showing higher toughness and better fiber-matrix interface. Recent investigations on thermoplastic thin-ply com-posites at CMASLab have shown promising results in manufacturing the material. The material is promising to be a game-changer in spacecraft structure design. However, many factors that come with thermoplastic composites have to be investigated. This covers es-pecially the fields of crystallinity, annealing, weld-ing/sintering and their influence on the mechanical properties. Additionally these fields can be used to very efficiently manufacture foldable structure architec-tures, which are currently only manufacturaable with great effort with thermoset matrix systems.
The opportunities that are opening up with regard to manufacturing techniques and composite design are manifold and have to be investigated. The Thesis should deliver fundamental knowledge and material characteristics for the development of deployable thermoplastic space structures.
This covers:
• Literature research on thin-ply composites, folda-ble structures, space structure architectures, ther-moplastic PEEK composites (crystallinity, anneal-ing etc.)
• Familiarizing with custom made material and its manufacturing process
• Characterization of material properties with regard to crystallinity, annealing cycles and its interfaces (welded/sintered)
• Investigate different ways to manufacture space structure architectures from the new material utiliz-ing the advantages of thermoplastic composites
• Analyze the structures with regard to manufacturing imperfections/shape accuracy and foldability
The opportunities that are opening up with regard to manufacturing techniques and composite design are manifold and have to be investigated. The Thesis should deliver fundamental knowledge and material characteristics for the development of deployable thermoplastic space structures.
This covers:
• Literature research on thin-ply composites, folda-ble structures, space structure architectures, ther-moplastic PEEK composites (crystallinity, anneal-ing etc.) • Familiarizing with custom made material and its manufacturing process • Characterization of material properties with regard to crystallinity, annealing cycles and its interfaces (welded/sintered) • Investigate different ways to manufacture space structure architectures from the new material utiliz-ing the advantages of thermoplastic composites • Analyze the structures with regard to manufacturing imperfections/shape accuracy and foldability
Arthur Schlothauer
Laboratory of Composite Materials and Adaptive Structures
Leonhardstrasse 21 - LEEO225
arthursc@ethz.ch
+41 44 632 67 02
Arthur Schlothauer Laboratory of Composite Materials and Adaptive Structures Leonhardstrasse 21 - LEEO225 arthursc@ethz.ch +41 44 632 67 02