Satellite manufacturers from JSC "RESHETNEV" are testing new domestic carbon fiber reinforced polymers for the manufacture and modernization of their products. Currently, the structures of modern spacecraft consist of 70% polymer composites, and Reshetnev strives to keep up with the times by introducing these materials into their products.
Carbon fiber reinforced polymers are polymer composite materials made of interwoven carbon fiber threads arranged in a matrix of polymer resins. Carbon fibers and fabrics are used to reinforce composite materials in conjunction with epoxy, vinyl ester, polyamide and phenol-formaldehyde resins. In Russia and the world, they are used to produce a range of parts and their individual components for operation in the extreme conditions of outer space, shipbuilding, wind power, aviation, automotive and nuclear industries.
Therefore, various tests of new materials are now being actively carried out in Zheleznogorsk, including mechanical, thermal vacuum and radiation tests. According to scientists, the purpose of these tests is to check the characteristics of carbon fiber reinforced polymers for compliance with technical requirements.
Tests of two new types of carbon fiber reinforced polymers have already been successfully completed, the main advantage of which is high strength, elasticity and geometric stability with a fairly low weight. Now they can be included in the list of materials for the manufacture of structures for promising satellites.