The Space Materials Testhouse provides assistance to ESTEC (European Space Research and Technology Centre in Noordwijk, NL) in characterisation and qualification of materials and processes of industrial suppliers. The objectives of this collaboration is the assessment of new technology for space missions in advance and the investigations of failures and anomalies in present space missions (Cold welding in Meteosat mechanism for example).
This Cooperation lasts since 1989 by Frame-contracts to ESTEC for periods of 2-3 years in which the Space Materials Testhouse organises direct settlement of "Call Off Orders" (approx 10 per year, i.e. about 200 KEuro). The cooperation partner at ESTEC is B.D. Dunn (Tec-Q, Manufacturing Technology Advisor).
Domains of Competences
Welding and soldering technology
- Fatigue of soldered joints
- Mechanical properties of «electronic materials» at low temperatures
- Effect of coating of circuit boards
- Diffusion welding of beryllium
- Diffusion bonding
Testing in simulated space environment
- Thermal cycling
- Outgassing
- Sublimation and Redeposition
- Tribology under vacuum
- Cold Welding under vacuum due to fretting and impact
- Coefficient of Moisture Expansion (CME) on CFRPs
Qualification and characterisation of materials for space
- Aluminium alloys
- Reinforced ceramics
- Metal matrix composites
- Polymer matrix composites
- Self-lubricating composites and anti-adhesion coatings
ernst.semerad@ait.ac.at