Keywords:expandable structures; shape memory polymers; open cellular structures; glass transitions temperature
Publisher:Pasadena, CA : Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2004.
Citation:International Symposium on Smart Materials, Nano and Micro-smart Systems, Sydney, Australia, December 12-15, 2004.
Abstract:
A cold hibernated elastic memory (CHEM) foam structure is one of the most recent results of the quest for simple, reliable and low-cost expandable space structures. The CHEM technology utilizes shape memory polymers in open cellular (foam) structure or sandwich structures made of shape memory polymer foam cores and polymeric composite skins. It takes advantage of the polymer’s heat activated shape memory in addition to the foam’s elastic recovery to deploy a compacted structure. The glass transition temperature, Tg is tailored to rigidize the structure in the fully deployed configuration.