2021 article

Ultra-lightweight fiber-reinforced envelope material for high-altitude airship

Vallabh, R., Li, A., Bradford, P. D., Kim, D., & Seyam, A.-F. M. (2021, June 28). JOURNAL OF THE TEXTILE INSTITUTE.

By: R. Vallabh n, A. Li n, P. Bradford n, D. Kim & A. Seyam n

co-author countries: United States of America 🇺🇸
author keywords: Lighter-than-air; long endurance high-altitude airship; hull material; airship envelope material; high performance fibers
Source: Web Of Science
Added: August 16, 2021

In this work, fiber-reinforced laminates for the envelope (hull) of high-altitude airships were developed using a novel design concept utilizing ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) as the adhesive component layer with high gas barrier properties. The other component layers of the laminates included poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) (Zylon®) fabric, metalized Mylar® (polyester) and metallized Kapton® (polyimide). The envelope materials were developed in two different strength categories. In the first category, three laminate designs were developed with strength ranging from 945–970 N/cm. The second group had one laminate design with a strength of 702 N/cm. These laminates with basis weights ranging from 103–113 g/m2, are the lightest envelope materials developed to date. As a function of their high strength and low basis weights, the new envelope materials have significantly higher specific strength (ranging from 911–925 kN.m/kg) compared to other envelope constructions published in the open literature. Other outstanding properties of the laminates include low helium permeability ranging from 0.4–8.0 cc/m2.24 hr.1 atm, high tear strength, UV and visible light (UV–Vis) resistance, and high creep resistance.