JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 54

aerospace
state of the art in thruster technology and
offer relatively low thruster efficiencies
(e.g. RAMPART’s design specific impulse
of 90 s), their simplicity and practicality
are well suited to pico- and nano-satellites. A key factor in the performance of
the propulsion system is the low weight
and cell structure of the propellant
tank made from Windform® XT material. Instead of utilizing state-of-the-art
technology, RAMPART uses a high
propellant mass fraction to provide the
required delta-V (320 m/s) for low-earthorbit in-plane orbital manoeuvres. Since
the dimensions and weight of a CubeSat
are its main constraints, Windform® XT
allows these parameters to be optimized
through the use of multiple and interconnected near-cubic cells. This offers the
advantage of maximizing the propellant
volume, integrated baffles provided by
the interconnecting walls, and possibility
of correlating material strength tests of
a unit cell to the entire propellant tank
design. One can easily compare this
design to traditional pressure vessels
(hemispherical caps) and achieve a twotimes difference in the propellant storage
volume.

Fig. 3: Top of propulsion module

To determine material performance, test
cubes similar in size to the baffled chambers (see Figures 3 and 11) were tested to
various pressures. After physically testing
the small test cubes that represented the
chambers up to 4 MPa, an FEA model
was developed by Whitney Reynolds
(U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory,
Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/RV))
to simulate the reactions of the small

chambers and then correlate the results to
a simulation of the final large propulsion
unit.

Material choice
The use of rapid prototyping plastics
in aerospace applications has been
somewhat limited to prototype work,
with the exception of Nylon 11 developed by Boeing (ODM) and Nylon 12
utilized by Northrop Grumman. (Programs include F-18 and Global Hawk).
These two materials are used in a production environment and are produced
using laser sintering (LS) machines. The
LS technology has been seen as the best
opportunity for durable plastic materials with a consistency in manufacture.
Selective laser sintering resolution for
plastics is commonly run at 0.1 mm per
layer, utilizing a CO2 laser that can be
adjusted to melt the plastics into a fully
dense material.
Fused deposition modelling (FDM) from
Stratasys, multi-jet modelling (MJM)
from Objet, and stereolithography (SLA)
from 3D Systems are some of the rapid
prototyping technologies examined. Each
technology and material has benefits for
prototyping. The key factors that helped
steer the material choice include heat deflection temperature, UV exposure, and
the requirement of plating the satellite in
order to make it radar reflective.
Windform® material was developed by
CRP Technology (Modena, Italy), whose
interest in the material was driven by a
customer request for an improvement
in stiffness specifically for wind tunnel
applications in Formula One racing
(Figure 4).

Fig. 4: F1 scale wind tunnel model created using
Windform® XT

54 jec composites magazine / No78 January - February 2013

Windform® XT uses a base polyamide
reinforced with carbon microfibres.
Racing teams were the first to begin using
the material, and determined it to be a
solution that could be utilized in “on-car”
applications. The material is currently
used by both F1 (Figure 5) and NASCAR
teams to replace components that would
typically require injection-moulded
materials. It has now been replaced by the
new Windform XT 2.0, which is characterized by improved properties. However,
because the new XT 2.0 material was still
under development, Windform XT was
used for this case study. The same CubeSat is now manufactured with Windform
XT 2.0 with excellent results.

Fig. 5: Windform XT used for a brake inlet duct on
an F1 car

Based on observations of other materials,
Windform® XT samples were subjected to
tensile tests and the cross-sections of the
brakes were examined under an electron
microscope. The micrographs showed the
carbon microfibres were encapsulated by
the Nylon base material. In addition, little
to no porosity was visible in the internal

Fig. 6: Micrograph of samples subjected to tensile
tests (courtesy Paramount Industries)



JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013

Cover
Edito
Point of view: bespoke solutions
Contents
Agenda of Events
COMPANY & BUSINESS In Brief
- Glass fibre
APPLICATIONS
- Bridge
- Music instrument
MARKET Overview 2012
FEATURE WIND ENERGY
- Market
- Resin
- Structure
- Prepreg
- Natural fibre
- China
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
- Repair
- Bonding
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATIONS
- RTM
- Laminate
- Aerospace
Index
In the world
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - Cover
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 2
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - Edito
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - Point of view: bespoke solutions
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 5
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - Contents
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 7
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - Agenda of Events
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - COMPANY & BUSINESS In Brief
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 10
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - - Glass fibre
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 12
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - - Bridge
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 14
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - - Music instrument
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - MARKET Overview 2012
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 17
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 18
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 19
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 20
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 21
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 22
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 23
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 24
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - - Market
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 26
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - - Resin
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 28
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 29
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - - Structure
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 31
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - - Prepreg
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 33
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - - Natural fibre
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 35
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 36
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 37
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - - China
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 39
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 40
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - - Repair
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 42
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 43
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - - Bonding
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 45
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 46
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - - RTM
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 48
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 49
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - - Laminate
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 51
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 52
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - - Aerospace
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 54
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 55
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 56
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - Index
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - In the world
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 59
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #78 - January/February 2013 - 60
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2211_148
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2209_147
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2206_146
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2204_145
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2201_144
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm211_143
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2109_142
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2107_141
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2105_140
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2103_139
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm-experts-digest-additive-manufacturing-2020
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2101_138
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2011_Special_Issue4
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2011_137
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2009_136
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2007_135
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm_2020_Q1_Innovation_Report
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2005_Special_Issue3
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2005_134
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2003_133
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2001_132
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1911_Special_Issue2
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1911_131
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1909_130
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1907_129
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1905_128
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1903_Special_Issue1
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1903_127
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1901_126
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1811_125
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1810_124
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1808_123
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1807_122
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1805_121
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1804_120
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1803_119
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1802_119-Supplement_Innovation_Report
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1801_118
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1711_117
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1710_116
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1708_115
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1707_114
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1706_113
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1704_112
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1703_111
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1701_110
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1611_109
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1610_108
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1608_107
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1607_106
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1605_105
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1604_104
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1603_103
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1601_102
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1511_101
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1510_100
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1509_99
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1507_98
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1505_97
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1504_96
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1503_95
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1501_94
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1412_93
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1410_92
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1409_91
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1406_90
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1405_89
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1404_88
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1403_87
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1401_86
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1311_85
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1310_84
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1308_83
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1307_82
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1305_81
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1304_80
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1303_79
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1301_78
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1212_77
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1210_76
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1208_75
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1207_74
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1206_73
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1204_72
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1203_71
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1201_70
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1111_69
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1110_68
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1108_67
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1107_66
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1105_65
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1104_64
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1103_63
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1101_62
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1011_61
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1010_60
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1009_59
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1006_58
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1005_57
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1004_56
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1003_55
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1001_54
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0911_53
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0910_52
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0909_51
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0907-08_50
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0906_49
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0904_48
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0903_47
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0901_46
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0811_45
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0810_44
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0809_43
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0807_42
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0806_41
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0805_40
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0803_39
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0801_38
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0712_37
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0710_36
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0709_35
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0707_34
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0706_33
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com