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[Sep 2005]
Materials for Space Applications
MRS - the Materials Research Society (Warrendale, PA, USA) has announced the publication of Volume 851 from the MRS Symposium Proceedings Series, entitled 'Materials for Space Applications'.
Severe-environment survivability is the key factor in the development of new space materials. These materials must exhibit excellent physical properties accompanied by lightweight, reusability and multifunctional capabilities, or must be related to processes that involve either low energy consumption or a highly efficient method of energy storage, conversion or production.
This volume offers a scientific and technical discussion and analysis of modifications induced by extreme conditions of the space environment, such as ionising particles, extreme temperatures, atomic oxygen and electromagnetic radiation in materials.
Many contributions focus on polymers and composites based on polymeric matrices. This trend reflects the need for lightweight materials with potential multifunctional, self-healing or smart capabilities. A distinct number of contributions focus on the effect of the space environment and of the simulated space environment on materials. The effect of ionising radiations and electromagnetic radiation on polymers and composite materials is reviewed in detail. The stability of polymeric materials against the atomic oxygen attack - of importance for low earth orbits and geostationary orbits - is also analysed in depth.
Safety issues require accurate estimations of the reliability of space materials and, in particular, of nanomaterials and associated devices. The role of these materials in future space projects such as the solar sail and the space elevator, as well as in near future missions (to the Moon and Mars), is addressed.
The book (ISBN 1-55899-799-7) is a hardback with 72 papers in its 581 pages. It is available at a cost of US$89 for MRS Members, US$102 for non-members in the USA or US$117 for others.
www.mrs.org/publications/
ENDS