  Cyanate
Ester
Elastomers
High-Performance
Elastomers
for
Low
Earth
Orbit
and
Space
Deployment
Outer
space
is
tough
on
polymers.
The
tortuous
combination
of
vacuum,
unchecked
ultraviolet
and
solar
radiation,
atomic
oxygen,
and
temperature
fluctuations
spanning
hundreds
of
degrees
results
in
an
environment
in
which
few
organic
polymers
can
survive.
CRG
is
currently
developing
a
cyanate
ester-based
elastomeric
resin
system
ideally
suited
for
deployment
in
this
harsh
environment
with
these
exceptional
properties:
•
Elastomeric
properties
from
-100
°C
to
250
°C
(-148
°F
to
482
°F)
•
Recovery
from
elongation
in
excess
of
100%
•
Low
outgassing
•
High
thermal
stability
•
Low
dielectric
constant/loss
•
Atomic
oxygen
self-passivity
•
UV
stability
These
properties
in
a
single
resin
system
result
in
a
material
that
will
serve
as
an
integral
building
block
for
the
development
of
a
wide
range
of
space-based
applications.
Design
and
development
activity
is
currently
being
funded
by
NASA
Glenn
Research
Center
under
a
Phase
I
SBIR
project
entitled
“Space-Qualifiable
Cyanate
Ester
Elastomer.”
During
Phase
II,
CRG
will
continue
to
optimize
and
demonstrate
the
technology
for
various
mission
opportunities.
Some
Applications:
• Exoatmospheric seals
• Elastomeric damping adhesives
• Actuators
• Ballutes
• Flexible thermal management coatings
• Self-deploying structures
• Cryogenic and high-temperature seals
and gaskets
• Medical instruments
• Future aircraft systems
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