ESAD: Elastomer Selection for AF-M315E Diaphragm

The use of AF-M315E as a monopropellant promises to greatly reduce the costs associated with the manufacturing, launching, and maintaining of satellites and other spacecraft. However, AF M315E has different material properties than hydrazine and is corrosive to currently used diaphragm materials. Lynntech proposes to identify an elastomer for use in AF M315E storage tanks and optimize the wetted surface to move the monopropellant, thus allowing for greater utilization of AF-M315E for satellite and spacecraft propulsion. Lynntech will leverage its recent experience with green propellants to take this concept from prototype to flight-ready. Phase I will focus on design and determining the limits to feasibility. Material corrosion and strength testing will be performed on elastomer candidates and MS&A will be utilized for rapid design of the new hardware. The new elastomer diaphragm or bladder will be scalable from nanosat applications up to large satellites.