Development of Quartz Fiber Parachute Materials

Item

Title
Development of Quartz Fiber Parachute Materials
Date
1963
Date Issued
1963-01
Publisher
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH : Directorate of Materials & Processes, Aeronautical Systems Division, Air Force Systems Command
DoD Project
7320 - Fibrous Materials for Decelerators and Structures
DoD Task
None Given
Abstract
In the realm of flexible space vehicle decelerators, few existing materials are capable of withstanding hyper-thermal environmental temperatures up to 2000°F. Conventional glass fiber structures normally have a temperature ceiling of 1200°F. Filamentous nickel alloys and fused silica are potentially serviceable to 1800°F or higher for short durations. Quartz fibers became semi-commercially available about two years ago. This research project was initiated to investigate the feasibility of utilizing these fibers for the fabrication of various parachute components.
Potentially, individual quartz fibers when handled with extreme care, have tenacities up to 15 grams per denier at room temperature. As much as 50% of this tenacity remains at 1800°F. Quartz fibers are even worse than fiberglass in that they are extremely brittle, sensitive to scratching, and have virtually no abrasion resistance when unprotected. Therefore, the initial portion of the research effort was directed to the development of a high temperature finish which would facilitate the processing of the fibers at room temperature as well as to afford protection at elevated temperatures. The first promising compound developed was magnesium acetate. Yarns treated with a size composed of starch and oil to which 3% magnesium acetate was added was found to be satisfactory at room temperature for winding, plying, and weaving.
However, this finish does not offer sufficient protection at temperatures above 600°F. Fabrics woven with quartz yarns thus treated lost up to 90% of their room temperature strength when tested at 1800°F, while under the same conditions the fibers lose only 50%. Thus, there is theoretical as well as practical opportunity to improve strength translation efficiency from 10% to at least 50%.
Preliminary data on a recently developed finish, an alumina 8-hydroxy quino­line complex, show considerable further improvement over the magnesium acetate. Analysis of mechanical properties of quartz indicates possible cause of poor fiber to yarn and fabric translation due to the crushing and bending behavior of fibers in aggregates.
Index Abstract
Contrails only
Laboratory
Directorate of Materials & Processes
Distribution Conflict
No
Distribution Classification
1
Identifier
AD0299030
DTIC Record Exists
No
Report Availability
Full text available
Creator
Chu, C. C.
Barish, L.
Kaswell, E. R.
Powers, D. H., Jr.
Extent
18
Corporate Author
Fabric Research Laboratories, Inc.
Report Number
ASD TDR 62-964, p. 217-233
Provenance
Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control
Type
article
Relation
This paper was presented at the Directorate of Materials and Processes "Symposium on Fibrous Materials" held in Dayton, Ohio, on 16-17 October 1962
Format
1 online resource (18 pages)
Is Part Of
Symposium on Fibrous Materials
Media
ASDTRD62-964paper11.pdf

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Items with "Has Part: Development of Quartz Fiber Parachute Materials"
Title Class
Symposium on Fibrous Materials