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Completed TRL 2 (started at 2, targeting 3)
We propose to produce and test a graphene-polyimide composite that will greatly improve the thermal and mechanical performance of a solar sail membrane, which will allow high priority heliophysics missions such as the Heliopause mission to approach much more closely to the sun than current technology allows. The graphene/polyimide technology is definitely currently at TRL 1/2. Solar sail technology represents enormous potential for human exploration and discovery. Utilizing virtually unlimited momentum transfer from radiation pressure, solar sails are made of ultrathin film membranes that can be accelerated to speeds enabling interplanetary and potentially interstellar travel on relatively short timescales. State-of-the-art solar sail membrane materials have exhibited adequate performance in recent near-Earth missions but do not possess the thermal and mechanical properties to support environments below 0.5 AU, which is vital to enable accelerations high enough for long-term missions. As solar sail lifetimes are only limited by material selection, durability is a key parameter for success in long missions. Graphene, a monolayer of carbon arranged in a hexagonal lattice, has shown promise as a material with excellent mechanical and thermal properties that can be integrated into widely used materials. Previous research has demonstrated a 35% improvement in thermal degradation and 2 to 3 times improvement in thermal conductivity, and an approximately 80% increase in the mechanical properties of tensile strength and Young's modulus. This task will develop, test and analyze the enhancement of thermal and mechanical performance in graphene-polymer nanocomposites as a future sail material. The funding will support the synthesis and full characterization of the composite material to spur further research of graphene as a solar sail membrane candidate.
Produce and test a graphene-polyimide composite that will greatly improve the thermal and mechanical performance of a solar sail membrane. Current solar sail technology cannot withstand environments below 0.5 AU which is necessary for future high-priority heliophysics science missions. Graphene-polyimide composite sail membranes will also reduce the risk of sail rips. This technology development will be revolutionary as it will enable missions such as Heliopause and Solar Gravitational Lens at the far reaches of the solar system by achieving an escape velocity from the solar system of 50-60 AU/yr.
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