DOWSIL™ 93-500 Space Grade: Silicone Encapsulant for Aerospace Applications

Space is a harsh environment, with extreme temperatures, radiation, and other challenging conditions. Space components and systems must be protected from these conditions to ensure their reliability and durability.

DOWSIL™ 93-500 Space Grade is a two-component silicone encapsulant that offers a unique combination of benefits for aerospace applications. It is characterized by low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, fast curing time, and excellent resistance to extreme environments.

Advantages of DOWSIL™ 93-500 Space Grade

• Low VOC Emissions: DOWSIL™ 93-500 Space Grade meets NASA’s requirements for VOC emissions (Certified ASTM E595), making it ideal for applications where contamination is a concern, such as satellites and spacecraft. Volatile emissions can contaminate electronic and optical components, leading to failures.
• Fast Curing Time: The hot curing times of DOWSIL™ 93-500 add a significant advantage. Cure times as short as 24 hours at 25°C, 10 minutes at 100°C, 7 minutes at 125°C, and 4 minutes at 150°C provide exceptional operational flexibility, speeding up production timelines without compromising quality.
• Excellent Resistance to Extreme Environments: DOWSIL™ Space Grade is resistant to extreme temperatures, radiation, and other challenging conditions encountered in space. It can withstand temperatures ranging from -269 to +316 °C, making it ideal for a variety of space applications.

Applications

DOWSIL™ 93-500 Space Grade finds utility in various aerospace applications where physical and electrical stability is crucial. Thanks to its special formulation, it excels as a space encapsulant, delivering reliable performance in extreme temperature conditions. It also meets NASA’s stringent requirements for low outgassing under thermal vacuum, ensuring maximum integrity in demanding environments.

• Sealing Optical Sensors: DOWSIL™ 93-500 Space Grade is used to seal optical sensors, such as cameras and telescopes, protecting them from contamination and the elements. Optical sensors are essential for space applications as they collect data about space.
• Encapsulation of Electronic Components: Used to encapsulate electronic components, such as printed circuits and transistors, to protect them from vibrations, shocks, and other mechanical stresses. Electronic components are crucial for space applications as they control the systems and functions of satellites and spacecraft.
• Assembly/Encapsulation of Solar Panel Cells: DOWSIL™ 93-500 Space Grade is employed to bond solar cells to substrates, creating more reliable and durable solar panels. Solar panels are essential for providing power to satellites and spacecraft.

Conclusion

DOWSIL™ 93-500 Space Grade is a two-component silicone encapsulant that offers a unique combination of benefits for aerospace applications. It is characterized by low VOC emissions, fast curing time, and excellent resistance to extreme environments. These advantages make it an ideal choice for a variety of space applications, including sealing optical sensors, encapsulating electronic components, and assembling solar panel cells.