Multilayer Insulation (MLI)

Our staff of engineers and technicians has extensive experience building MLI for a wide variety of customers with both build-to-print and design-to-fit projects. Our facility is set up to manufacture MLI blankets for use on spacecraft, launch vehicles, and cryogenics applications. Specifications for blankets should be provided along with drawings, templates, and/or CAD files. We can service IGES, AutoCAD® DWG, Solidworks, and DXF files for conversion for use as templates. We are certified to manufacture either sewn blankets with fabric surfaces or taped blankets with plastic layers. Various sewing and taping techniques can be employed and combinations of each can be used to produce the best blanket required by your mission. Our MLI blankets have been used on AMOS II, Express C-Band, and SCISAT I spacecraft as well as the International Space Station, which has MLI and shields on the lab, airlock, nodes, and various truss elements.

High Temperature MLI Blankets

Our engineers and technicians have experience working with, developing, designing, and fabricating a variety of high temperature MLI materials. 

• Elevated Temperature (up to 300° C)
  Materials that are used for these applications include polyimide films, Nomex® threads, and PTFE impregnated glass cloth.
• High Temperature (300° C to 1000° C)
  MLI blankets that will be used in this temperature range typically include graphite cloth, ceramic textiles, and fiberglass fabrics.
• Ultra High Temperature (1000° C and above)
  Materials that are used in this temperature extreme include refractory metal foils (coated and uncoated), ceramic and silicon carbide textiles, graphic cloth, and silica fiber felt.

Micro Meteoroid Orbital Debris (MMOD) Shields

MMOD shields have been used to protect spacecraft from the devastating effects of direct debris penetration. Several types of MMOD shields are employed by the International Space Station, which range from metal plates to fabric-laden blankets and MLI. Outer layers of MLI, made of fabrics like Beta Cloth, Kevlar®, or Nextel®, hinder small particle penetration. With more and more debris accumulating in space, debris shields are critical. Aerospace Fabrication personnel have extensive experience fabricating a variety of debris shields for use on spacecraft. 

Vacuum Bake-Out

Aerospace Fabrication has established an in-house vacuum outgassing capability. We are able to vacuum bake and outgas materials such as fastener tape (e.g. Aplix, Velcro®), thread, webbing, fabric, smaller blankets, and materials. Your custom vacuum bake-out requirements can be tested and certified to your specifications or NASA requirements. Material can be tested to a variety of methods including ASTM-E595 to meet NASA Standard SPR-0022A of < 1.0% TML and < 0.1% CVCM.

Thin Film Materials & Kits

Thin film materials, such as tapes, laminates, films, and foils, are available in individual small quantities. Lay-ups are available individually and in kits.

Protective Covers

We leverage our experience and background in fabrication and sealing techniques to provide corrosion protection for assets exposed to extreme environments.