Tenders Are Invited For Qualification Performance Enhancement Of European Space Adhesives For Structural And Optical Bonding - Expro Plus

Tenders are invited for Qualification Performance Enhancement of European Space Adhesives for Structural and Optical Bonding - Expro plus Objectives:To qualify a European space adhesive, focused on structural and/or optical bonding applications, andcapable to withstand ground, launch and space environment effects.Description:Europe lacks a fully qualified space-ready adhesive for structural and optical bonding, despite the criticalrole these materials play in ensuring mission integrity across thermal, mechanical, and vacuumenvironments. Current ESA missions depend on long-established non-European systems whoseformulations and supply conditions are outside European control, creating operational and industrial risks for long-term use. Furthermore, ESAs industrial partners rely onthe extensive past heritage andvalidation of these non-European solutions, and adapting a European solution would require having dataavailable so that it can be done with confidence. This activity focuses also on validating and qualifyingexisting European adhesive candidates to demonstrate their suitability for space-relevant bonding processes. Rather than developing new formulations, the goal is to rigorously benchmark available European products, perform the necessary environmental and mechanical testing, and generatea complete qualification dataset. This will enable large system integrators and subcontractors to adopt EU-sourced adhesives with confidence, strengthening European autonomy and ensuring dependable access to mission-critical bonding materials.This activity encompasses the following tasks:- Review of available European adhesive formulators manufacturers and products with structural andglass-to-metal applications (focused on epoxies and potentially UV-curing adhesives, but otheralternatives are possible),- Review the TRL status, the performances already available and the manufacturing capabilities andidentify the gaps with respect to non-Europeanadhesives commonly used in space- Down select three with the largest potential with a focus on applicability. Characterize, if notavailable, asminimum E/G modulus in wide range of temperatures, CTE, thermal vacuum stability and outgassingperformance- Performadequate testing to verify the suitability of the adhesive/substrate solutions to the requiredenvironments. This includes space-application thermal response (at least thermal vacuum, mechanicalloads, adhesion strength) and dimensional stability tests (permanentpolymerisation shrinkage). It shouldalso include the main common substrates for these applications.- Apply and verify the use of the adhesive in the most common space-relevant adhesive bondingprocesses.The expected outcome is an increased TRL for European adhesives, supported by a comprehensive gap analysis of their properties, and the generation of robust performance data to make them available to theEuropean industry. The ultimate objective is to have qualified-European produced adhesives available toall space system integrators categories and subcontractors, facilitating a transition from non-European to fully European space adhesives.Deliverables: Technical report, Samples of developed adhesivesApplication/Need Date: All Missions Mission Classification: alpha, beta, gamma,delta.Read more Tender Link : https://esastar-publication-ext.sso.esa.int/ESATenderActions/filter/open