Tech Briefs Magazine - November 2021 - 14

Sponsored Content
I NS I DE STORY
As a premier global high-performance silicones and specialties company, Momentive creates products
that improve quality of life for people and enable a more sustainable future. Our vast portfolio of
solutions propels our customers' businesses forward, driving performance from dusk to dawn, across
the globe and even into the universe. Specifically, room temperature vulcanization (RTV) silicones play
a key role in assembling, bonding, insulating, and protecting critical components in aerospace and aviation
applications. In this interview, Thanos Yiagopoulos, Chief Technology Officer of Momentive
Performance Materials, discusses how engineers can determine the best product for their application.
Tech Briefs: How long have Momentive's silicone solutions been
supporting America's space efforts?
Thanos Yiagopoulos: Momentive - previously
known as GE Silicones - has been serving
America's space efforts since the first ceramic
thermal protection tiles were developed.
We are proud to have served every U.S.
manned space mission from the late 1960s to
today. Through the course of that trajectory,
we've been evolving the way we approach
this industry. We've had to adapt the way we view this industry
holistically and the way we position ourselves to support unmet
needs that are rapidly developing in this space.
TB: What is Momentive doing to respond to the rapid innovation
rate of new space customers?
Yiagopoulos: We follow an established stage gate innovation model
that works well to respond to customers that may know they have a
need but they don't know exactly what the solution should be. We
know how to translate the needs of the customer so that we can
develop the right material in the right formulation for their needs.
The new generation of aerospace customers is following proven
business models similar to the electronics and automotive markets.
Startup firms are moving quickly to make material decisions. In
response to the rapid pace of innovation, Momentive has built dedicated
cross-functional teams trained in specific market segments,
like aerospace and aviation. We have an ecosystem that helps us do
the right analytics and customer specific testing - from the material,
to the process, to the datasets - and also understand how we
can scale those materials to the specification of the customer and
to the regulatory requirements that govern this industry.
TB: How can Momentive enable higher-volume production of
space vehicles?
Yiagopoulos: One of the key challenges for manufacturers is creating
components that can be reused. This depends on having
sealants that can stand up to extreme temperature fluctuations. To
that end, we are pioneering new RTV silicone sealants, adhesives,
and thermal protection systems with enhanced temperature and
chemical resistance, which can improve durability.
Using room-temperature-cure RTV adhesives and sealants
also helps to streamline and optimize the manufacturing process.
This helps manufacturers save time and resources during component
assembly, maintenance, and repairs. We also have a good
understanding of how to create the framework to produce those
materials, so in the future as volumes increase, we can meet that
increasing demand through new processing innovations. From a
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process perspective, Momentive has invested heavily in facilities
and systems to offer higher volumes for the growing market.
TB: Why use silicones in space, defense, and aviation?
Yiagopoulos: The inherent properties of RTV silicones from
Momentive make them excellent candidates for critical applications.
They offer excellent thermal performance - maintaining
their performance and flexibility over a wide range of temperature
extremes. The low outgassing performance helps to ensure
a consistent vacuum-tight seal and protection of vital components
and cargo against the elements in extreme conditions.
Silicones are resistant to vibration, shock, and UV. In space, they
are used in everything from crew capsules to satellites and from
launch structures to launch vehicles. In aviation and UAVs, silicone
products can provide environmental protection, increase hardware
reliability, improve sensor performance, and extend component life.
TB: How has Momentive's portfolio evolved over the past decade?
Yiagopoulos: Over the past decade, we have developed an
extensive low outgassing silicones offering, to the point that
our latest products lose less than 1% of mass and produce less
than 0.1% volatile condensable materials in a vacuum, meeting
ASTM E595. These are especially valuable properties when it
comes to crew capsules, satellites, space exploration vehicles,
and habitats and when coating advanced, critical equipment.
We also developed a new generation of thermal management
solutions that offer the right levels of conductivity and insulation
in challenging aerospace, aviation, and military applications.
We've made progress in creating silicone solutions with excellent
chemical resistance and in extending the longevity of our solutions
so they can perform in components that could be reused.
TB: It seems like there are hundreds of RTV silicone solutions
available. How do engineers determine the best material to use?
Yiagopoulos: As we see this industry evolving, it will be very difficult
or practically impossible to pick materials from a single catalog.
There are many selection tools available online and material databases
that can aid product selection but often, the best way is to
work in partnership with the technical team at your supplier.
At Momentive, we have an extensive technical team available 24
hours a day to answer questions. We work collaboratively with customers
to find the right solutions, from conducting customer specific
testing in our global application development labs, to brainstorming
ideas to help solve individual challenges.
To learn more about Momentive, read the full-length version of
this interview at www.techbriefs.com/InsideStory1121. Contact
Momentive at go.momentive.com/space.
www.techbriefs.com
Tech Briefs, November 2021

http://www.techbriefs.com/InsideStory1121 http://go.momentive.com/space http://www.techbriefs.com http://info.hotims.com/79419-902

Tech Briefs Magazine - November 2021

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