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Why Custom Plastics are Essential for Space Mission Success

Why Custom Plastics are Essential for Space Mission Success

Outer space features the most demanding conditions imaginable, underscoring the importance of reliable, high-performance materials. Spacecraft venturing beyond the atmosphere experience extreme temperatures, high pressure, and corrosive chemicals that threaten mission success and personnel safety if anything goes wrong. Fortunately, a custom plastics manufacturer can provide the necessary resources to help you fulfill your next mission.

Advanced, high-performance plastics are engineered to meet the harsh, demanding conditions and prolonged use of spaceflight. They allow complex missions to be conducted safely and efficiently, preventing unnecessary expenses and safeguarding personnel. They can be used for space vehicle launches, spacecraft instruments, and satellites. Read on to learn more about how custom plastic fabrication can assist with your missions into the vast and demanding regions of space.

Lightweight

When it comes to space travel, every pound matters. While spacecraft rely on high-performing components and instruments to complete their missions, these elements must also be lightweight enough to accommodate lift-off from the Earth. As any engineer knows, the more weight you save, the more efficient your spacecraft will be — and the more money you can save! This tricky balance is best achieved using high-performance plastics that can be fabricated to suit various applications while remaining lightweight.

You can create accurate, reliable instruments and durable spacecraft components all from the same high-performance plastics that won’t burden your vehicle with unnecessary weight. Everything from interior panels to spacecraft valves can be made using custom plastic thermoforming and distribution from a reputable company like New Technology Plastics.

Thermal Stability

Extreme temperature fluctuations are the norm in space travel, where a spacecraft can go from -238 degrees to 266 degrees Fahrenheit. Components used in aerospace engineering must withstand extreme temperatures without failing or deteriorating quickly. This is another major benefit of custom plastic solutions from reputable distributors.

A trusted custom plastic manufacturer can provide high-performance, temperature-adaptable materials for rocket engine applications and other aerospace features. They can withstand liquid nitrogen and gaseous oxygen, two common chemicals that can threaten operational safety if not adequately prepared for. They also have optimal flammability features, preventing failure due to the extreme heat experienced during lift-off.

High Strength-to-Weight Ratio

As we said before, a tricky balance must be achieved between strength and weight. Many of the strongest materials are also, unfortunately, quite heavy. However, high-performance plastics from a reputable custom plastics manufacturer provide the perfect solution. They are designed to withstand extreme conditions, both temperature and mechanical operation, without cracking, deforming, or deteriorating quickly. They offer the lasting durability required of spacecraft.

High-performance plastics absorb minimal moisture before flight, which ensures their operational integrity and durability. They also provide stellar dimensional stability and are sturdy enough to withstand the rigors of a launch. Their combination of low weight and high strength makes them the perfect material for complex aerospace applications.

Design Flexibility

A single spacecraft requires hundreds, if not thousands, of components and instruments working together to achieve a successful lift-off and space navigation. While you could source these components from various companies, a streamlined approach allows you to complete your spacecraft more efficiently and guarantees consistent quality across all components.

Custom plastic fabrication delivers an all-in-one solution for aerospace engineers. You can design almost any component necessary for creating a reliable spacecraft, from large interior panels to the minute elements of a complex instrument. This versatility allows engineers to streamline their resource acquisition, making completing each job easier. Find the high-performance solutions you need from a custom plastics distributor

Corrosion Resistant

Spacecraft and their components must endure various chemicals, solvents, and compounds that can be corrosive to many materials. A reputable plastic manufacturer will use premium, high-performance materials resistant to corrosion from these substances, ensuring optimal functionality throughout the harsh chemical conditions of space. These materials can also withstand radiation, present both internally and externally.

Since corrosion is a primary concern for aerospace engineers, knowing where to source high-performance, corrosion-resistant materials is essential to a successful mission. Companies like New Technology Plastics provide engineers with chemical-resistant plastics that can withstand harsh space environments.

Cost-Effective

The intense conditions of space and excessive stress from launches can cause significant damage to internal components, requiring costly replacements. Investing in durable, high-performance plastics will minimize damage to critical components, enhancing mission safety and minimizing expenses. The longer components last, the more money you can save. Custom plastic manufacturers can provide the most robust materials!

High-performance plastics exhibit minimal friction, prolonging their life expectancy and protecting internal components from damage due to high vibrations during a launch. They also diminish the wear due to interfacing metal components in vacuum conditions, which enhances the operational durability and longevity of aerospace components. The exceptional fatigue resistance of these materials is essential for cost-effective space missions.

Access High-Quality Materials for Aerospace Missions

New Technology Plastics provides exceptional materials and components fabricated with meticulous detail, ideal for high-performance industries like aerospace. We offer comprehensive services, including CNC machining, tooling, thermoforming, and a streamlined material distribution system. We also offer a wide material selection and low minimum orders, making it easy for you to access the materials you need. Call New Technology Plastics today at 866-687-0700 or contact us online to learn more about our custom plastic services.