KR20180073303A - Method and system for manufacturing expanded structure using resin-infusion curing and avaliable in space - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for manufacturing an expanded structure available in space using resin-infusion curing comprises the following steps: expanding a folded fiber bag using the atmospheric pressure difference; diffusing a resin composition in a fiber layer arranged between an outer skin layer and an inner skin layer of the fiber bag; and curing the resin composition.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a method and a system for manufacturing an expanded structure using resin infiltration hardening that can be used in an outer space,

The present invention relates to a method and system for constructing a structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and a system for manufacturing an expansion structure using a resin penetration hardening available in an outer space.

For decades, space development has been steadily growing in response to various new demands, such as communications, GPS, weather, and intelligence, and efforts have been made to develop larger, higher performing satellites or manned space modules. However, when placing an artificial structure such as a satellite or manned spacecraft in space orbit, the volume and weight of the structure were limited by the size and performance of the launch vehicle.

In the case of NASA, the space shuttle program, one of the world's largest launch vehicles, has successfully placed the International Space Station and large satellites in orbit. In the 1990s, the International Space Station was incorporated with various modules starting with Zarya and now has 15 pressure modules installed. Most of the modules are installed as space shuttle programs, so the outside diameter is limited to 4-5m. Although the space shuttle program has been discontinued, efforts to create larger, higher-performance projectiles are still ongoing. However, the development of such large projectiles is accompanied by enormous costs and risks.

Recently, the development of an expandable space structure that can change the size to reduce the operating cost and risk of such a large projectile is continuing. Expandable space structures are emerging as an alternative to limit the size of projectiles. Recently, Bigelow aerospace developed the expandable expansion type pressure module, BEAM, and Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, which is now docked to the space station and started a one-year trial run. There are many advantages when these extensible modules work successfully. First, the launch cost of a space structure having the same use space can be drastically reduced. And because of the large use space, it can store a lot of luggage fuel, or perform various missions with limited space. You can also create real-dwelling spaces such as the moon or Mars.

However, the effects of high vacuum, atomic oxygen, ultraviolet radiation, thermal cycling, and ultrafast impact of M / OD on the dangerous space environment elements have not been investigated or are very small, thus presenting a major risk to existing metal-based space structures. The M / OD in a space environment refers to a colliding object that is small in size and can not be traced on the ground, at an average speed of 7km / s, usually several tens to several millimeters in size. Large-scale space debris can avoid collision by avoiding maneuvers, but in the case of M / OD, the outer wall of a space structure with protective performance is inevitable.

With space development, the number of artificial M / ODs has increased significantly, and now there are millions of M / ODs with a size of 1cm 10cm and several hundreds of thousands less than 1cm. Various analytical tests have been carried out to protect space structures from the impact of such high M / OD collisions. In particular, the international space station has introduced the concept of a whip shield, which consists of two or more aluminum bumpers, Effective protection.

However, the concept of the extended universe structure to date is expected to have very little protection effect because it is made of high performance fiber fabric such as Kevlar. In order to develop an expandable space structure, we have tested the curing of B-stage type composite materials in which the matrix material is semi-cured to fibers (https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1008/1008.5236. pdf.). However, in the case of semi-cured composite materials, it is difficult to expect large extensibility of the woven fiber because it has already some form. It has also been reported that the semi-cured base material is exposed to a surface such as atomic oxygen, which makes it difficult to maintain good mechanical strength.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a structure having a high degree of protection and a large expandability, and a system capable of implementing the method.

It is to be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing an expansion structure using resin infiltration hardening, comprising the steps of: expanding a folded fiber bag using an air pressure difference; Diffusing the resin composition into a fibrous layer disposed between the inner layer and the inner layer, and curing the resin composition.

A system for implementing the above-described method comprises a fiber bag including an outer shell layer, an inner skin layer, and a fiber layer disposed between the outer shell layer and the inner skin layer, a fiber bag that combines the fiber bag and the outer structure, And a resin supply unit for supplying the resin composition to the fiber layer through a resin injection unit formed in the endothelial layer.

According to one embodiment, the envelope layer is formed with a sound-pressure providing portion connected to an outer space of the fiber bag to provide a negative pressure to the fiber layer.

According to one embodiment, the shell layer has a laminated structure of a metal layer and a ceramic layer.

According to one embodiment, the fibrous layer is made of aramid fibers, polyethylene fibers, polypropylene fibers, zylon fibers, nylon fibers, glass fibers, carbon fibers, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene Weight polyethylene fibers, and PBO (p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) fibers.

According to one embodiment, the endothelial layer comprises a polymeric film.

According to one embodiment, the resin composition includes a thermosetting resin composition or a photocurable resin composition.

According to one embodiment, the fiber bag further comprises a porous spiral cord for providing the resin composition to the fiber layer.

As described above, according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a fiber bag that is easy to fold is inflated in an outer space, a resin is spread in a fiber layer of the fiber bag by using a vacuum in an outer space, An expansion structure having physical properties can be formed. Accordingly, it is easy to transfer and install a large-sized space structure, and it is possible to have excellent protection performance against ultrafast impact of microspheres.

Further, by constructing the structure with the fiber composite reinforcing material as described above, the use of the metal or ceramic protective plate can be minimized, thereby further improving the expandability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a flow chart for explaining a method of manufacturing an expansion structure using resin infiltration hardening available in an outer space according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a folded fiber bag of an expanding structure manufacturing system using resin penetration hardening available in an outer space according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a process of expanding a fiber bag using an expanding structure manufacturing system using resin penetration curing available in an outer space according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a cross-sectional view of an expanded fiber bag using an expanded structure manufacturing system using resin penetration curing available in an outer space according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a perspective view partially showing a fiber bag connected to a resin supply in a system for manufacturing an expanded structure using resin infiltration curing available in an outer space according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a cross-sectional view partially showing a fiber bag including a spiral cord in an expansion structure manufacturing system using resin penetration curing available in an outer space according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, the dimensions of the structures are enlarged to illustrate the present invention in order to clarify the present invention.

The terminology used in this application is used only to describe a specific embodiment and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the present application, the terms "comprises ", or" having ", and the like, are intended to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, or combinations thereof, , Steps, operations, elements, or combinations thereof, as a matter of principle, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries are to be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the contextual meaning of the related art and are to be interpreted as either ideal or overly formal in the sense of the present application Do not.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a flow chart for explaining a method of manufacturing an expansion structure using resin infiltration hardening available in an outer space according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, first, a fiber bag is inflated in an installation space of a structure (S10). The expansion of the fiber bag may be based on a difference in air pressure. Next, the resin composition is diffused into the fibrous layer of the fiber bag (S20). Sound pressure may be applied to the fiber layer for diffusion of the resin composition. Next, the resin composition diffused in the fibrous layer is cured to form a fiber-reinforced composite material (S30). A detailed process of the method and a system for implementing the method will be described in more detail below.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a folded fiber bag of an expanding structure manufacturing system using resin penetration hardening available in an outer space according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a process of expanding a fiber bag using an expanding structure manufacturing system using resin penetration curing available in an outer space according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an expanded fiber bag using an expanded structure manufacturing system using resin penetration curing available in an outer space according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a perspective view partially showing a fiber bag connected to a resin supply in a system for manufacturing an expanded structure using resin infiltration curing available in an outer space according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a cross-sectional view partially showing a fiber bag including a spiral cord in an expansion structure manufacturing system using resin penetration curing available in an outer space according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, an expanding structure manufacturing system using resin infiltration hardening available in an outer space according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a fiber bag 10. The fiber bag 10 has a fiber layer as a main component and has flexibility. For example, the fiber bag 10 is held in a folded state as shown in Fig. 2 in the ground and in a flight body, and can be expanded by an air pressure difference in an outer space to form an expansion structure. In order to maintain the folded state of the fiber bag 10, the inside of the fiber bag 10 can be kept at a low pressure, for example, a vacuum state.

The fiber bag 10 may include a coupling portion 20. The coupling portion 20 may connect the structure formed by the expansion of the fiber bag 10 or the fiber bag 10 to another structure, for example, a satellite, a space station, or the like. Further, air can be supplied through the opening 22 of the coupling portion 20 when the fiber bag 10 is expanded.

For example, when air is supplied into the fiber bag 10 in an outer space, due to the air pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the fiber bag 10, as shown in FIG. 2, (Or inflated). Since the fiber bag 10 includes a fibrous layer as a main component, it can be easily expanded by the pressure due to such a difference in air pressure.

4, the fiber bag 10 has a multi-layer structure including a fibrous layer 14, an endothelial layer 16, and an outer layer 12. The inner layer 16 is in contact with an inner space formed by the expansion of the fiber bag 10 and the outer layer 12 is in contact with a space outside the fiber bag 10, have. The fibrous layer (14) is disposed between the outer skin layer (12) and the inner skin layer (16).

For example, the fibrous layer 14 may comprise high performance fibers having high physical properties. For example, the fibrous layer 14 may be formed of a material selected from the group consisting of aramid fibers, polyethylene fibers, polypropylene fibers, zylon fibers, nylon fibers, glass fibers, carbon fibers, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene Molecular Weight Polyethylene) fiber, and PBO (p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) fiber. For example, products for the fiber, such as "Kevlar", "Twaron", "Heracron", "Spectra", "Dyneema", "Zylon", "Gore- Dacron "and the like can be used. For example, the fibrous layer 14 may comprise an array of bundles or fabrics of the fibers. The higher the density of the fiber layer 14, the higher the strength of the structure formed from the fiber bag 10, but the microchannels between the fibers decrease and the diffusion of the resin composition may become difficult or nonuniform. Can be adjusted to have a density.

The outer layer 12 may protect the fiber layer 14 from the outside. The outer cover layer 12 may have a multilayer structure in which a metal layer and a ceramic layer are laminated, and the metal layer and the ceramic layer may be laminated on the polymer film. For example, the metal layer may include gold, silver, aluminum, copper, nickel, chromium, tungsten, and the like. The ceramic layer may include boron carbide, alumina, and the like. The polymer film may include polyolefin, polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, polyimide, polyamide and the like.

For example, the endothelial layer 16 may be a film comprising a polymer. The endothelial layer 16 may include a polyolefin, a polyacrylate, a polymethacrylate, a polyimide, a polyamide, and the like. The endothelial layer 16 can prevent the resin intruding into the fibrous layer 14 from coming out of the fibrous layer 14. That is, the outer skin layer 12 and the inner skin layer 12 can serve as a flexible mold for curing the resin.

Referring to FIG. 3, after the fiber bag 10 is expanded, a resin supplier 40 provides a resin composition to the fiber bag 10. The resin supplier 40 may be a resin tank for storing and transporting the resin composition. 2, the resin supply unit 40 is shown as being disposed inside the fiber bag 10, but this is an example for explanation, and the resin supply unit 40 is provided outside the fiber bag 10, For example, disposed within another space structure and connected to the fiber bag 10 through a hose or the like.

For example, the endothelial layer 16 of the fiber bag 10 may have a resin injection portion 17b for providing the resin composition to the fibrous layer 14, 14 to provide a negative pressure. For example, the sound-pressure connection part 17a may be an opening connected to the outside. In the outer space, the sound-pressure connection 17a can be connected to an outer space, and in this case, it can provide sound pressure to the fiber layer 14 by operating as an air vent. The fibrous layer 14 has a space between the fibers, that is, a microchannel. Therefore, the resin composition that has entered the fibrous layer 14 through the resin injecting portion 17a can be diffused in the fibrous layer 14 toward the negative pressure connecting portion 17a.

The resin composition diffused in the fibrous layer 14 may be cured by heat or radiation in space to form a fiber reinforced composite material.

The resin composition may include a thermosetting composition or a photocurable composition. In one embodiment, the resin composition comprises 20 to 40 wt% of an epoxy resin, 5 to 20 wt% of an unsaturated carboxylic acid, 0.1 to 1 wt% of an amine catalyst, 0.1 to 10 wt% of an isocyanate, 30 to 50 wt% of a styrene monomer diluent %. ≪ / RTI >

For example, as the epoxy resin, it is preferable to use a bisphenol A type epoxy. The bisphenol A type epoxy has a benzene nucleus (Bisphenol A), which makes free rotation difficult, which can increase the chemical resistance and adhesion toughness high temperature properties.

As the unsaturated carboxylic acid, acrylic acid or methacrylic acid which reacts with the epoxy resin may be used. The unsaturated carboxylic acid may be a small amount of other unsaturated dicarboxylic acids such as fumaric acid, maleic anhydride, maleic acid and itaconic acid, or they may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

As the amine catalyst, it is preferable to use at least one member selected from triethylamine, ethyltrimethylammonium bromide, dimethylbenzylamine and di-n-butylamine as the polycondensation reaction catalyst of the epoxy resin and the unsaturated carboxylic acid Do.

The isocyanate used for the hydroxyl group and the urethane bond of the vinyl ester main chain includes tolylene diisocyanate, diphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate, p-phenylenediisocyanate, xylylene diisocyanate, 1,5-naphthyl 4,4'-diisocyanate, dianisidine diisocyanate, tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, dicyclohexylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate, At least one selected from diisocyanate, trans-1,4-cyclohexyldiisocyanate, norbornene diisocyanate, 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate, 2,4,4-trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate and lysine diisocyanate Can be used.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the fiber bag 10 may include a porous spiral cord 18 for facilitating diffusion of the resin composition.

For example, the spiral cord 18 may be connected to a resin injection cord 30 so that the resin composition can be injected into the spiral cord 18 from the resin injection cord 30. The resin injection cord 30 may be connected to the resin feeder 40.

A plurality of the spiral cords 18 may be arranged in rows or may extend in the jig jag direction so as to be disposed entirely in the fiber bag 10.

For example, referring to FIG. 5, the spiral cord 18 may be disposed between the fibrous layer 14 and the endothelial layer 16, but the present invention is not limited thereto, 18 may be disposed between the fibrous layer 14 and the outer skin layer 12 or may be embedded in the fibrous layer 14.

Because the spiral cord 18 has porosity, the resin composition within the spiral cord 18 can easily diffuse into the surrounding area.

According to the present invention, it is possible to expand a fiber bag easily foldable in an outer space, to diffuse the resin into a fiber layer of the fiber bag by using a vacuum in an outer space, and then to harden it to form an expansion structure having high physical properties . Accordingly, it is easy to transfer and install a large-sized space structure, and it is possible to have excellent protection performance against ultrafast impact of microspheres.

Further, by constructing the structure with the fiber composite reinforcing material as described above, the use of the metal or ceramic protective plate can be minimized, thereby further improving the expandability.

The fabrication system for a structure according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be used for fabrication of a structure in a space where large extensibility is required, such as an outer space.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It will be understood that the invention may be modified and varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

Expanding the folded fiber bag using the air pressure difference;
Diffusing the resin composition into a fiber layer disposed between an outer skin layer and an inner skin layer of the fiber bag; And
And a step of curing the resin composition. A fiber bag comprising an outer layer, an inner layer, and a fiber layer disposed between the outer layer and the inner layer;
A coupling unit coupling the fiber bag and the outer structure and having an opening to provide air in the fiber bag internal space; And
And a resin supply unit for supplying the resin composition to the fiber layer through a resin injection unit formed in the endothelial layer. [3] The system of claim 2, wherein the envelope layer is formed with a sound pressure providing portion connected to an outer space of the fiber bag to provide a negative pressure to the fiber layer. The system for manufacturing an expanded structure according to claim 3, wherein the outer skin layer has a laminated structure of a metal layer and a ceramic layer. [4] The method according to claim 3, wherein the fiber layer is formed of aramid fiber, polyethylene fiber, polypropylene fiber, Zylon fiber, nylon fiber, glass fiber, carbon fiber, Ultra-High Molecular Weight polyethylene, and PBO (p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) fiber. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the endothelial layer comprises a polymeric film. The system for manufacturing an expanded structure according to claim 3, wherein the resin composition comprises a thermosetting resin composition or a photo-curable resin composition. The system of claim 3, wherein the fiber bag further comprises a porous spiral cord for providing the resin composition to the fibrous layer.

Images