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Elastomeric Seal Performance after Terrestrial Ultraviolet Radiation ExposureUltraviolet radiation was evaluated to determine its negative effects on the performance of elastomeric gas pressure seals. The leak rates of the silicone elastomer S0383-70 O-ring test articles were used to quantify the degradation of the seals after exposure to vacuum-ultraviolet and/or middle-to-near-ultraviolet wavelength radiation. Three groups of seals were exposed in terrestrial facilities to 115-165 nm wavelength radiation, 230-500 nm wavelength radiation, or both spectrums, for an orbital spaceflight equivalent of 125 hours. The leak rates of the silicone elastomer S0383-70 seals were quantified and compared to samples that received no radiation. Each lot contained six samples and statistical t-tests were used to determine the separate and combined influences of exposure to the two wavelength ranges. A comparison of the mean leak rates of samples exposed to 115-165 nm wavelength radiation to the control specimens showed no difference, suggesting that spectrum was not damaging. The 230-500 nm wavelength appeared to be damaging, as the mean leak rates of the specimens exposed to that range of wavelengths, and those exposed to the combined 115-165 nm and 230-500 nm spectrums, were significantly different from the leak rates of the control specimens. Most importantly, the test articles exposed to both wavelength spectrums exhibited mean leak rates two orders of magnitude larger than any other exposed specimens, which suggested that both wavelength spectrums are important when simulating the orbital environment.
Document ID
20150019859
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Daniels, Christopher C. (Akron Univ. Akron, OH, United States)
Oravec, Heather A. (Akron Univ. Akron, OH, United States)
Mather, Janice L. (Akron Univ. Akron, OH, United States)
Taylor, Shawn C. (Toledo Univ. Toledo, OH, United States)
Dunlap, Patrick H. (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
October 29, 2015
Publication Date
June 22, 2015
Subject Category
Metals And Metallic Materials
Report/Patent Number
GRC-E-DAA-TN22440
Meeting Information
Meeting: Atmospheric and Space Environments Conference
Location: Dallas, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: June 22, 2015
End Date: June 26, 2015
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 871056.06.02.01.09.02
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNC08CA35C
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNC13BA10B
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
leakage
seal
ultraviolet radiation

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