TB 26-04 Webbings for Use in Elevated Oxygen Environments
Flammability test results for commercial-off-the-shelf webbings that meet NASA flammability requirements are reported for use in elevated oxygen environments anticipated for future lunar and Martian missions. Testing demonstrated that a webbing composed of 60% Kevlar®/40% polybenzimidazole (PBI) from Sturges Manufacturing Company, Inc., specifically the natural version, passed flammability…
Flammability tests of commercial-off-the-shelf webbings for use in elevated oxygen environments were conducted by NASA's Johnson Space Center and the Mars Campaign Office, with support from the NASA Engineering and Safety Center. The tests were performed on a webbing composed of 60% Kevlar®/40% polybenzimidazole (PBI) at 37% oxygen and 8.2 psia, which is anticipated for future lunar and Martian missions.
The natural version of this webbing passed NASA-STD-6001B Test 1 using a surface ignition in a J-configuration. Offgassing data for the natural webbing is also provided. These results indicate that the webbing may be suitable for softgoods applications, although further testing is needed to validate performance and wear characteristics in the full configuration.
The elevated oxygen environment increases the risk of flammability, emphasizing the need for improved fire-resistant materials. The strategy, implemented by the NESC, aims to ensure materials meeting NASA flammability requirements are available for aerospace applications.
Written by urgent.news from NASA's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
