[Milsurplus] Kapton

Mon, 12 Apr 2004 19:41:20 -0700

And the U.S. Navy has outlawed Kapton for its aircraft and ships 
(don't know about land vehicles).  Seems the stuff develops 
microcracks over time.  This allows salt water to invade and provide
a conductive path for arcing, especially in Kapton coated wires used
to carry 115 VAC 400 Hz aircraft power.  The arcing leaves carbon tracks
and all of this leads to fires.  I suspect the salt water intrusion isn't
really a concern in spacecraft.

Dick

Pete Young wrote:
> 
> Re Kapton:
> I'm involved in integration and test of unmanned spacecraft and although
> I've never seen
> Kapton insulated wire, Kapton TAPE is everywhere.  It doesn't outgass under
> thermal/vacuum
> testing, thus preventing contamination.  The downside is what happens if it
> catches fire say,
> from a short circuit.  It'll burn, even in a vacuum; it provides its own
> oxygen!  A few years ago
> I saw a video of this "feature" of Kapton.  Fortunately it was just a
> simulation.
>                                                                         --Pete Young
> 
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