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