Effects of vacuum thermal cycling, ultraviolet radiation and atomic oxygen on the mechanical properties of carbon fiber/epoxy shape memory polymer composite

The use of shape memory polymer composites as novel materials for next generation space deployable structures requires the study of the effect of space environment upon their properties. The resistance of carbon fiber/epoxy shape memory polymer composite to vacuum thermal cycling, ultraviolet radiation and atomic oxygen has been evaluated separately by using ground-based simulation facilities. The thermal cycling condition has a temperature range of −100 °C to +100 °C with cycle times of 0, 15, 30, and 45. The irradiation times of ultraviolet with a wavelength range of 250 nm–400 nm are 0, 80, 160, and 240 h. The atomic oxygen radiation has a translational energy of about 5 eV and a flux of about 2 × 1015 atoms/cm2 at the sample position, and the irradiation times are 0, 33, 66, and 100 h. The shape memory polymer composite specimens are compared in terms of morphology, tensile modulus, breaking strength and elongation at break before and after irradiation. Results show that thermal cycling increases tensile modulus but decreases the breaking strength and the elongation at break of material after 45 cycles. The effect of ultraviolet radiation on mechanical properties of materials depends on the radiation dose received. Atomic oxygen can negatively but slightly affect the mechanical properties of the material. •Effects of vacuum thermal cycling, UV and AO radiations on the surface morphology of the shape memory polymer composite.•Effects of vacuum thermal cycling, UV and AO radiations on the mechanical properties of the shape memory polymer composite.•Evaluation of space radiation resistance of the carbon fiber/epoxy shape memory polymer composite.