property that has a direct connection to in-situ manufacturing and fabrication of polymeric
parts. In-situ manufacturing operations can occur in microgravity or reduced gravity levels (eg,
on the moon or Mars) and may include, for example, the extrusion and processing of
thermoplastic elastomer films, which are very resilient and can be made thin and lightweight.
These elastomeric materials may form the basis of adhesives and fillers utilized in a wide variety
of repair applications, especially under a reduced gravity environment, such as the repair of
space suits or other similar materials. Understanding and exploiting the ability to fabricate new
parts in-situ from a limited number of precursor components is critical in future space missions
where weight plays a critical role in the overall cost of a mission. Additionally, in-situ repair
provides a means of maintaining systems
during transport and while on long-
duration expeditions beyond low-Earth
orbit.
RESULTS
Data analysis continues for the test
points performed. This analysis involves
the computation of the time evolution in
the cross-sectional area of the filament
from the radius data, a temperature
correction for the relaxation time and the
zero-shear rate viscosity to correct for
thermal fluctuations in the ISS Glovebox
environment, and the computation of the
extensional viscosity together with the
Trouton ratio (Hall 2009, 2010).
PUBLICATION(S)
Soulages J, McKinley GH, Hall NR, Magee KS, Chamitoff GE, Fincke EM. Extensional properties of
a dilute polymer solution following preshear in microgravity. 48th Aerospace Sciences Meeting
and Exhibit, Orlando, FL; 2010.
Hall NR, McKinley GH, Erni P, Soulages J, Magee KS. Preliminary findings from the SHERE ISS
Experiment. 47th Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, Orlando, FL; 2009.
This investigation is complete and all results are published.
ISS017E012296 – View of the Laser
Micrometer,Deployment Tool,Preshear Motor,and Force
Transducer on the Shear History Extensional Rheology
Experiment rheometer within the Microgravity Science
Glovebox. Photo was taken in the European
Laboratory/Columbus during Expedition 17.