Stability and Environmental Impact of 3D Printed Plastics in Space

Stability and Environmental Impact of 3D Printed Plastics in Space

Contents

ISS International Astronautical Congress

-Introduction

-Curriculum links

-Experiment

-Collaborations

-Results

PLASTIC IN SPACE, SEATON HIGH IS ON THE CASE!

“Stability and environmental impact of 3D printed plastics in space”

INTRODUCTION – Plastic might not be so Fantastic!

With a growing concern about plastics polluting the environment down on Earth, it made us question the impacts plastic could have in space. For our proposed experiment, we plan to send up multiple 3D-printed plastic shapes to space, in order to investigate the chemical and structural changes that could occur. Could plastic eventually cause harmful effects beyond Earth? Isn’t it about time we gain a greater understanding of the risks of plastic in space? It’s been becoming a huge pollutant on our planet; let’s ensure we don’t do the same to our solar system!

Curriculum links

This experiment has had many connections to Australia’s curriculum. The task is linked to STEM in many ways; it is allowing us to use our critical and creative thinking skills, we have to collaborate and work on our project management skills. This task has also allowed us to learn a variety of new skills; including how to use CAD and how to use electronics and programming software. We have also been exposed to the interaction of light with matter, which will help us for SACE. It has particularly helped us in the year nine Science curriculum. The task is involving the following sections of the Y9 Australian Curriculum:

•Waves and energy transfers

•Electromagnetic radiation and nuclear radiation

•Heat transfer

•Materials and their uses

•Analysing and representing data

•Science as a Human Endeavour

In addition to this, through our problem solving and critical creating thinking, we are also developing our digital literacy and digital technology skills (coding with Scratch, Alice and AppInventor).

EXPERIMENT

Aim:

Monitor and analyse changes to material, design and function of 3D printed spacecraft or satellites (including some basic electronics) in the context of launch and environmental conditions. (Student questions included 'what will happen to our 3D shapes in space and are we polluting space and Earth with chemicals by being in space?')

Methodology:

3D Printed designs of artificial satellites or spacecraft, to a maximum of 100 mm x 100 mm x 100 mm per design. Possible partial heat and radiation coating on surfaces to assess environmental impact.

Designs to incorporate some basic electronics and sensor technology (similar to Internet of Things, [IoT]) to monitor functioning and changes to material (structural and or chemical). For example, student questions included whether there is flexing and warping of materials used to print their designs in space and are we able to use or design electronics to detect this and have the information monitored on our smartphones. Will the space environment result in any chemical changes to the material used and how can we monitor both the environment and the material to see if there is a connection?

Ceramic Coating

Through discussion with Raviteja Duggineni (Masters student, University of Adelaide), we theorised that the environment of space would cause outgassing of the plastic, which could lead to the degradation of the plastic’s structural integrity. We decided we could have ceramic coating on some of the shapes, which would allow us to compare the effect of shielding (heat and cosmic radiation) as well as outgassing on the stability of the plastic.

Control Experiment

To investigate the effect of exposure to the environment of space on the structural integrity of a 3D printed plastic, we plan to have a control experiment.

This control experiment, which would be identical 3D printed shapes left on earth, would increase the reliability of our results. We want to ensure any changes to the plastic in space wouldn’t just happen normally on earth, and that it is purely the environment of space causing any changes to the plastics.

Throughout the experiment we would be able to compare the experiment in space to the control experiment on earth. This analytical comparison will ensure there aren’t any alternative reasons, other than the effects of the space environment, causing chemical or structural changes.

COLLABORATION

We have been fortunate enough to have Mr RaviTeja Duggineni (University of Adelaide) offer some advice and suggestions.

A visit from scientists from Defence Science Technology Group (DSTG) is planned for early November to discuss our planning and experimental design.

Dr Errita Jones (Astrophysicist, University of South Australia & Mars Scientist), has offered to provide advice and input for developing our ideas.

RESULTS

With the data collected from our 3D printed plastic experiment we could gain a better understanding of how plastic reacts in the environment of space, which can lead to further investigation of what materials are suitable for use beyond earth, which both withstand the conditions and preserve the environment (terrestrial and extraterrestrial).

To make the collected information available to the wider community and allow for public access we could design and set up a website or app. This would ensure our research can be viewed by scholars or experts, all the way to anyone interested in our efforts.

Co-investigators, the class of 913, 2017:

BellaANDERSON
Fin ANDREWS
Jovana BAJCETIC
Zachary BARCLAY
Stacey BARTON
Mitch BRENTON
Ashleigh CATTON
Jesse DE NICHILO
Latisha DOHERTY
Cooper HADDOW
Wefag HAJ ALI
Declan LARKIN
Macey LAWSON
Theo MCLAUGHLIN-BROWN
Ethan MURPHY
Jarrah MURPHY
Rex RAINBOW
Kingsley SIMES
Guthrow TAYLOR JOHNSON
Lucy UZELAC
Tahlia VIDEON
Taine WATLING
Hayley WEAVER
Colleen YONG

And our teacher: Ms Patricia CURTIS