Browse Topic: Foams

Items (267)

Acoustic Evaluation of Fiber Based Materials for Engine Bay Applications

2025-01-011505/05/2023

A newly formulated fiber-based material was developed to offer a cleaner, recyclable alternative to foam-based vehicle acoustic products. The fiber-based material was designed to be used in multiple vehicle acoustic applications, with different blends of the material available depending on the application. It performs well as an engine bay sound absorber due to its high heat tolerance and good absorption performance. A study was conducted to evaluate the sound absorption performance of this fiber-based material, specifically the engine bay blends, in comparison to that of current foam-based products. The results from this study show that the sound absorption performance of this new fiber-based material can match that of current foam-based materials while providing a recyclable product unlike the foam.

Krugh, Jack

A Comprehensive Evaluation of PU Foam for EV NVH Performance

2025-01-012005/05/2023

Low density polyurethane foam was first proposed as an alternative to expandable baffles and tapes for sealing vehicle body cavities towards the end of the last century. In spite of several inherent advantages for cavity sealing, the high equipment cost of dispensing amongst other reasons, this technology has not spread as widely as expected. With the advent of electric vehicles, there is an increased emphasis on controlling higher frequencies from motors, inverters and other components, and polyurethane foam can be a viable solution by providing more robust sealing. Polyurethane foam sealing is already being employed in the new breed of electric vehicles but its NVH advantages have not been fully studied or published in literature. Using an existing electric vehicle with conventional expandable baffles & tape sealing measures, a comprehensive evaluation of NVH performance using the closed-cell polyurethane foam solution was carried out. Testing included component level bench test on

Kavarana, Farokh, Guertin, Bill, Braun, Arnold, Hand, Joshua, Thota, Manoj

Impact of chemical blowing agent on polypropylene properties

2021-28-020310/01/2021

Weight reduction and material saving goals in automotive applications have led to the processing of thermoplastic polymers by foam injection molding. The density of the foamed polymer can be reduced up to 20%. Whilst, work has been reported on the weight reduction of the foamed polymer by using different types of blowing agent technologies, there has been limited studies in the areas of the sound transmission loss and material dampening properties of these materials. The present study is intended to understand the effect of chemical blowing agent (CBA) on the properties of polypropylene. The molded specimens were characterized against the density, Tensile property, flexural property, Izod impact, heat deflection temperature, differential scanning colorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), sound transmission loss (STL) properties as per standard test protocol and cell structures by stereo microscope. Obtained results indicates

Shukla, Sandeep Kumar, Balaji, K V

Test Method for Determining Cold Cracking of Flexible Plastic Materials

J323_202109 (Current)

09/15/2021

This SAE Recommended Practice is applicable for determining the cold characteristics of flexible plastic materials, as applicable. It consists of three different methods for determining low-temperature properties of materials depending on type of material and end use. The method used shall be as specified by the contractual parties.

Textile and Flexible Plastics Committee

Wearable, Stretchable Gas Sensor

TBMG-3850702/01/2021

A team has developed and tested a stretchable, wearable gas sensor for environmental sensing. It combines a newly developed laser-induced graphene foam material with a unique form of molybdenum disulfide and reduced-graphene oxide nanocomposites. The researchers were interested in seeing how different morphologies, or shapes, of the gas-sensitive nanocomposites affect the sensitivity of the material to detecting nitrogen dioxide molecules at very low concentration. To change the morphology, they packed a container with very finely ground salt crystals.

5 Ws of Algae-Based Flip-Flops

TBMG-3781010/01/2020

Flip-flops are one of the most popular sandals, with an estimated market size of $20 billion.

Hardening Lightweight Metal Foams with Nanocoating

TBMG-3581801/01/2020

Bones are strong and stable and can cope with loads almost as well as steel. But despite their strength, they are light enough to be easily moved by humans and animals. The secret lies in the combination of a hard, exterior shell that encases a porous lattice-like network of bone tissue in the interior of the bone. This structure saves on material and reduces weight.

Products of Tomorrow: December 2019

TBMG-3570712/01/2019

This column presents technologies that have applications in commercial areas, possibly creating the products of tomorrow. To learn more about each technology, see the contact information provided for that innovation.

Optimization of Multi-Layer Panel Constructions Using Experimental Modeling via Transfer Matrix Method

2019-01-157706/05/2019

In a previous paper [1], a method was introduced to predict the sound transmission loss (STL) performance of multi-layer panel constructions using a measurement-based transfer matrix method. The technique is unique because the characterization of the poro-elastic material is strictly measurement based and does not require modeling the material. In this paper, it is demonstrated how the technique is used to optimize the STL of lightweight, multi-layer panel constructions. Measured properties of several decoupler materials (shoddy and foam) are combined with sheet metal and barrier layers to find optimal combinations. The material properties are measured with the impedance tube per ASTM E2611 [2].

Green, Edward Ray, Anton, John

Q&A: Professor Jaime Grunlan, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

TBMG-3414104/01/2019

Professor Grunlan and his team are developing a new flame-retardant coating using renewable, nontoxic materials readily found in nature that could provide effective fire protection for several widely used materials.

The Application of Additive Manufacturing to the 2018 SAE Aero Design Challenge

2019-01-132803/19/2019

This project focuses on the application of polymer additive manufacturing to the 2018 SAE Aero Design Regular Class competition for North Carolina A&T State’s 2017/2018 senior project team. The Regular Class SAE Aero Design challenge requires participating teams to create a high lift, high efficiency remote controlled aircraft that is designed to carry as many passengers and additional cargo mass as possible while still being able to meet land and air performance requirements defined by the competition rules. Constraints set by the competition rules include material constraints, a max gross weight of 55 lb, a limited power supply of 1000 W, a 12-ft wingspan limitation, enclosed cargo and passenger bays, the ability to unload and load all cargo and return the plane to a flight ready configuration within 1 minute, and a takeoff distance of 200 ft. The wide use of additive manufacturing and hot wire foam cutting for this aircraft design has allowed for accurate and efficient component

Blake, Nathan David, Waters, Cynthia, Esau, Simon, Kizito, John

Nanoscale Pillars Act as Memory Foam

TBMG-3393603/01/2019

A customizable nanomaterial was developed that combines metallic strength with a foam-like ability to compress and spring back. The material can store and release mechanical energy on the nanoscale, and fits into existing industrial semiconductor processes.

Artificial “Blubber” Protects Divers in Frigid Water

TBMG-3248208/01/2018

When Navy SEALs carry out dives in Arctic waters, or when rescue teams are diving under ice-covered rivers or ponds, the survival time even in the best wetsuits is very limited — as little as tens of minutes. Researchers have discovered a process to triple that survival time.

An Overview of Microstructural Approaches for Modelling and Improving Sound Proofing Properties of Cellular Foams: Developments and Prospects

2018-01-156406/13/2018

Significant advances have been made over the last 15 years in the field of modelling the acoustic properties of foams from the description of their microstructures. It entails a multidisciplinary work at the junction between physico-chemistry and mechanics of porous media, which involves a dialogue between different disciplines and requires the joint development of several techniques (imaging, upscaling, numerical computations, and experimental identification). It seems to be of timely interest to take stock of the methodological developments that have provided guidance on how to manufacture the new generation of foams with enhanced properties and to identify possible future methodological developments.

Perrot, Camille, Hoang, Minh Tan, Chevillotte, Fabien

Modeling the Effect of Foam Density and Strain Rate on the Compressive Response of Polyurethane Foams

05-11-02-001405/08/2018

Due to the high deformability and energy dissipation capacity of polymer foams in compression, they are used in automotive applications to mitigate mechanical impacts. The mechanical response of the foams is strongly affected by their density. Phenomenological relations have been proposed to describe the effect of foam density on their stress-strain response in compression at a fixed loading rate and the effect of loading rate at a fixed foam density. In the present work, these empirical approaches are combined allowing for the dependence of loading rate effect in compression on foam density. The minimum experimental data set for calibration of the proposed model consists of compression test results at two different loading rates of foams with two different densities. Rigid closed-cell polyurethane foams with apparent density in the range of ca. 100 to 300 kg/m3 have been produced and tested in compression up to a ca. 80% engineering strain at low (0.00167 to 0.5 s−1) and intermediate

Japins, Guntis, Kalnins, Kaspars, Kirpluks, Mikelis, Cabulis, Ugis

Development of a Simulation Tool for High Capacity Metal Foam Heat Exchanger with Phase Change Material

2018-01-078304/03/2018

Metal foam with their high porosity and heat storage capacity can be combined with phase change materials to be a powerful heat storage device. Numerical simulations of metal foam behavior can be challenging due to their complex geometric patterns necessitating high mesh requirements. Furthermore, simulations of the inner workings of a metal foam heat exchanger comprising of a large number of individual metal foam canisters can be impossible. The objective of the current work is to develop a computational model using a proprietary CFD tool Simerics-MP/Simerics-MP+® to simulate the workings of a metal foam heat exchanger with phase change element. A heat transfer coefficient capturing this heat transfer between wax and metal is used to formulate the “simplified” mixture model. The versatility of the proposed model is in the universality of its application to any shape or structure of metal foam. The computational model developed is tested to replicate the results of the 3D simulation

Srinivasan, Chiranth, Slike, Jody, Wang, De Ming, Gao, Haiyang

Magnesium Alloy, Processes for Pretreatment and Prevention of Corrosion on

AMSM3171 (Historical)02/25/2018

This specification covers general requirements for the apparatus, material, and procedures to be used in the processing of magnesium base alloys for the purpose of increasing their corrosion resistance and by producing surfaces suitable for organic paint finish systems.

AMS B Finishes Processes and Fluids Committee

Advanced Carbon Aerogels for Energy Applications

TBMG-2830202/01/2018

Carbon aerogels (CAs) are nano-porous carbons comprising a particularly significant class of carbon nano-materials for a variety of sustainable energy applications. Carbon aerogels are specifically promising in that they possess a tunable, three-dimensional, hierarchical morphology with ultrafine cell size and an electrically conductive framework. They are available as macroscopic, centimeter-sized monolithic materials. Carbon aerogels hold great technological promise for a variety of sustainable energy applications including hydrogen and electrical energy storage, desalination, and electrocatalysis.

Aerospace & Defense Technology: December 2017

17AERP1212/01/2017

High-Reliability Capacitors When the Mission Just Can't Fail WIAMan High-Tech Test Lab Focuses on Saving Soldiers' Lives Improving the Surface Finish of Additive Manufactured Parts A new chemical immersion treatment could revolutionise the aerospace industry Using Thermoplastic Composites for Aerospace Applications Identifying and Isolating Signals Using Radio Frequency Photonics Bioinspired Surface Treatments for Improved Decontamination: Commercial Products Investigation seeks to determine which coatings shed fluids most effectively. Mechanical Characterization and Finite Element Implementation of the Soft Materials Used in a Novel Anthropometric Test Device for Simulating Underbody Blast Loading Understanding the mechanical behavior of components made from eight soft polymer materials is necessary to ensure the predictive capability of WIAMan FE models. Processing and Characterization of Lightweight Syntactic Materials Hollow spheres encapsulated in a metal matrix, syntactic metal

Functionally Graded Metal-Metal Composite Structures

TBMG-2770010/01/2017

NASA Langley Research Center has developed a functionally graded metal-metal composite structure. The structure is created using a method that avoids deleterious reactions between the different metal constituents, as would be observed via conventional melt processing. The results are unique alloy compositions and arrangements not typically available through conventional processing routes.

Contaminants for Aircraft Turbine Engine Fuel System Component Testing

AIR4246D (Current)09/27/2017

This SAE Aerospace Information Report (AIR) is intended as a guide toward standardization of descriptions and specifications of fluid contamination products.

AE-5B Aircraft and Engine Fuel and Lubricant Sys Components

Corrosion-Inhibiting Self-Expanding Foam

TBMG-2720107/01/2017

Surfaces such as metal and other corrodible surfaces are often exposed to extreme weathering, temperatures, moisture, impurities, and otherwise damaging external forces that accelerate corrosion. Conventional methods of corrosion protection include applying paints and other coatings, such as petroleum-based undercoatings, with a sprayer to the exposed surface. To be effective, the entire exposed surface must be covered or the corrosion process will be accelerated at the unprotected areas. While open-area surfaces may be easier to protect, those surfaces found in internal cavities within an overall framework can be more challenging to protect. Achieving full coverage on internal surfaces can be extremely difficult, and in some cases impossible without drilling several access openings in the structure. These extraneous openings can compromise the strength of the structure as well as create more entryways for water and debris. This increases the opportunity for corrosion to initiate at

Utilization of Empirical Models to Determine the Sound Absorption and Bulk Properties of Compressed Materials

2017-01-188406/05/2017

Sound absorbing materials are commonly compressed when installed in passenger compartments or underhood applications altering the sound absorption performance of the material. However, most prior work has focused on uncompressed materials and only a few models based on poroelastic properties are available for compressed materials. Empirical models based on flow resistivity are commonly used to characterize the complex wavenumber and characteristic impedance of uncompressed sound absorbing materials from which the sound absorption can be determined. In this work, the sound absorption is measured for both uncompressed and compressed samples of fiber and foam, and the flow resistivity is curve fit using an appropriate empirical model. Following this, the flow resistivity of the material is determined as a function of the compression ratio.

Wu, Ruimeng, Herrin, David W.

Highly Porous and Mechanically Strong Ceramic Oxide Aerogels

TBMG-2683605/01/2017

NASA's Glenn Research Center (GRC) has developed and produced ultra-lightweight polymer cross-linked aerogels (X-Aerogels). These mechanically robust, highly porous, low-density materials are three times denser than native aerogels, but more than 100 times stronger. Aerogels are ultra-lightweight glass foams with extremely small pores (on the order of 10 to 50 nanometers). These materials are extremely good thermal insulators, with R values ranging from 2 to 10 times higher than polymer foams. Unlike multilayer insulation, aerogels do not require a high vacuum to maintain their low thermal conductivity, and can function as good thermal insulators at ambient pressure. In addition, they are good electrical insulators and have low refractive indices, both approaching values close to air. Aerogels are also excellent vibration-damping materials. Traditional aerogels, however, suffer fragility and poor environmental durability.

Validation of Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) Foam Material Models for Low Speed Bumper and Pedestrian Protection Applications

2017-01-036303/28/2017

Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) foams are most commonly used in automotive applications for pedestrian protection and to meet low speed bumper regulatory requirements. In today’s automotive world the design of vehicles is predominantly driven by Computer Aided Engineering (CAE). This makes it necessary to have a validated material model for EPP foams in order to simulate and predict performance under various loading conditions. Since most of the automotive OEMs depend on local material suppliers for their global vehicle applications it is necessary to understand the variation in mechanical properties of the EPP foams and its effect on performance predictions. In this paper, EPP foams from three suppliers across global regions are characterized to study the inter-supplier variation in mechanical properties. In order to understand the effect of inter-supplier variation on vehicle performance, an LS-DYNA rate dependent material model is developed and validated for low speed and pedestrian

Ramaswamy, Karthik, Virupaksha, Vinay L., Polan, Jeanne, Tripathy, Biswajit

Stable and Accurate LS-DYNA Simulations with Foam Material Models: Optimization of Finite Element Model Parameters

2017-01-133803/28/2017

Cellular foams have found a predominant application in automotive industry for efficient energy absorption so as to meet stringent and continuously improving vehicle crashworthiness and occupant protection criteria. The recent inclusion of pedestrian protection regulations mandate the use of foams of different densities for impact energy absorption at identified impact locations; this has paved the way for significant advancements in foam molding techniques such as dual density and tri-density molding. With increased emphasis on light-weighting, solutions involving the use of polymeric or metallic foams as fillers in hollow structures - foam encapsulated metal structures - are being explored. Another major automotive application of foams is in the seat comfort area, which again involves foams of intricate shapes and sizes. In addition, a few recently developed foams are anisotropic, adding on to the existing complexities. Complexities associated with controlled/ uncontrolled spatial

Ramaswamy, Karthik, Patham, Bhaskar, Savic, Vesna, Tripathy, Biswajit

The Heavy Impact of Advanced Lightweight Materials

TBMG-2651403/01/2017

Historically, high-strength materials have been heavy and dense. The need for high-strength but lightweight materials has become more widespread when designing everything from vehicles and aircraft, to buildings and wind turbines. These advanced materials are enabling engines to operate efficiently at higher temperatures, use less fuel, and emit fewer pollutants, as well as finding uses in many other applications.

Aerofoam

TBMG-2601612/01/2016

Aerofoam is a unique foam composite insulation with improved thermal and acoustic insulation properties. The novelty of this invention comes from combining a polymer foam with a unique inorganic filler in a way that maximizes thermal performance while maintaining mechanical performance, chemical resistance, fire resistance, and acoustic insulation capabilities. The development of new manufacturing processes has also allowed for the development of these unique composite materials.

Potting Compound, Epoxy Bisphenol A-Type Syntactic Foam, Heat Cure

AMS3731/6C (Current)09/22/2016

This specification covers a glass or silica micosphere-filled epoxy resin formulation, supplied as a two-component system, requiring an oven cure for attainment of maximum properties.

AMS P Polymeric Materials Committee

Experimental Setup to Assess Blast and Penetration- Induced Secondary Debris in a Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) Environment

TBMG-2519808/01/2016

As part of Project Agreement on Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT), the US Army Research Laboratory’s (ARL’s) Explosives Effects Branch supported a series of experiments conducted in Meppen, Germany (DEU), to understand loading on personnel protective equipment (PPE) produced during urban weapon attacks. These experiments were conducted by detonating an explosive charge placed on a brick wall to create secondary debris that would impact the US-designed collection medium.

Experimental Setup to Assess Blast and Penetration-Induced Secondary Debris in a Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) Environment

16AERP08_1208/01/2016

Testing demonstrates effects of blast debris on personnel protective equipment. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland As part of Project Agreement on Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT), the US Army Research Laboratory's (ARL's) Explosives Effects Branch supported a series of experiments conducted in Meppen, Germany (DEU), to understand loading on personnel protective equipment (PPE) produced during urban weapon attacks. These experiments were conducted by detonating an explosive charge placed on a brick wall to create secondary debris that would impact the US-designed collection medium. The experimental area consisted of 3 separate rooms (Figure 1). The first room was used as the blast room. The second and third rooms contained the collection medium. A double thick brick wall separated rooms 1 and 2 and was used to create the secondary debris.

Aluminoborosilicate Supplement for Thermal Protection of a Re-entrant Vehicle

TBMG-2496707/01/2016

The Toughened Uni-piece Fibrous Reinforced Oxidation-Resistant Com posite (TUFROC) allows for much more affordable and sustainable operations involving Space Launch Services and other systems that utilize Earth reentry vehicles. TUFROC has an exposed surface design and appropriate materials combination that will allow a space vehicle to survive both the mechanical stresses of the initial ascent, and the extreme heating and stress of re-entry. It provides a thermal protection tile attachment system that is suitable for application to a space vehicle leading edge, and for other uses in extreme heating environments (up to 3600 °F, and possibly higher, for short time intervals).

Aromatic Thermosetting coPolyester (ATSP) Composites for High-Temperature and Cryogenic Applications

TBMG-24964

07/01/2016

Advanced composite materials processable by cost-effective manufacturing play an important role in developing lightweight structures for future space and planetary exploration missions. With the growing demand for improved performance in the aerospace sector, advances in polymer systems with extreme thermomechanical properties are critical in providing excellent retention of performance in high-temperature environments, and high resistance to microcracking at cryogenic temperatures.

A Numerical Study of a Method for Estimating Sound Absorption Coefficient under a Synthesized Diffuse Acoustic Field

2016-01-184706/15/2016

A method for estimating the sound absorption coefficient of a material under a synthesized Diffuse Acoustic Field was recently proposed, as an alternative to classical sound absorption measurements in reverberant rooms (Robin O., Berry A., Doutres O., Atalla N., ‘Measurement of the absorption coefficient of absorbing materials under a synthesized diffuse acoustic field’, J. Acoust. Soc. Am., 136 (1) EL13-EL19, 2014). Using sound field reproduction approaches and a synthetic array of acoustic monopoles facing the material, estimation of the sound absorption coefficient under a reproduced Diffuse Acoustic Field in a hemi-anechoic room was shown to be feasible. The method was successfully tested on a few samples of melamine foam of close thicknesses and areas, but the influence of several parameters such as the source height, or the samples dimensions together with the nature of the porous material was not fully investigated. In this paper, the robustness of the method is numerically

Sgard, Franck, Doutres, Olivier, Robin, Olivier, Amedin, Celse Kafui, Berry, Alain, Atalla, Noureddine

Brake Insulator Damping Measurement Procedure

J3001_201604 (Current)

04/20/2016

This procedure is applicable to modes from 500 and 13,000 Hz. The parameters measured with this procedure are defined as the damping factor, ξ for first nine vibration modes of the beam. The measurement will be done in free-free conditions and with temperature.

Brake NVH Standards Committee

Design of Catalytic Devices by Means of Genetic Algorithm: Comparison Between Open-Cell Foam and Honeycomb Type Substrates

2016-01-096504/05/2016

Metallic foams or sponges are materials with a cell structure suitable for many industrial applications, such as reformers, heat catalytic converters, etc. The success of these materials is due to the combination of various characteristics such as mechanical strength, low density, high specific surface, good thermal exchange properties, low flow resistance and sound absorption. Different materials and manufacturing processes produce different type of structure and properties for various applications. In this work a genetic algorithm has been developed and applied to support the design of catalytic devices. In particular, two substrates were considered, namely the traditional honeycomb and an alternative open-cell foam type. CFD simulations of pressure losses and literature based correlations for the heat and mass transfer were used to support the genetic algorithm in finding the best compromise between flow resistance and pollutant abatement. The CFD analysis was conducted by means of

Falfari, Stefania, Micci, Giacomo, Bianchi, Gian Marco, Brusiani, Federico, Montenegro, Gianluca, Della Torre, Augusto, Onorati, Angelo

Thermal Management of Power Batteries for Electric Vehicles Using Phase Change Materials: A Review

2016-01-120404/05/2016

As one of the most crucial components in electric vehicles, power batteries generate abundant heat during charging and discharging processes. Thermal management system (TMS), which is designed to keep the battery cells within an optimum temperature range and to maintain an even temperature distribution from cell to cell, is vital for the high efficiency, long calendar life and reliable safety of these power batteries. With the desirable features of low system complexity, light weight, high energy efficiency and good battery thermal uniformity, thermal management using composite phase change materials (PCMs) has drawn great attention in the past fifteen years. In the hope of supplying helpful guidelines for the design of the PCM-based TMSs, this work begins with the summarization of the most commonly applied heat transfer enhancement methods (i.e., the use of thermally conductive particles, metal fin, expanded graphite matrix and metal foam) for PCMs by different researchers. Newly

Pan, Dongchang, Xu, Sichuan, Lin, Chunjing, Chang, Guofeng

Flexible, High-Temperature Polyimide/Urea Aerogels

TBMG-2424804/01/2016

Cross-linked silica-based aerogels with polymeric materials, as well as incorporating a flexible linkage into the underlying metal oxide, have been proven to improve strength and resilience over their native, or non-cross-linked, counterparts without adversely affecting porosity and density. In this invention, high-temperature, stable, all-organic polyimide aerogels are prepared as reacting linear polyimide chains with a functional monomer to create branchings that are further room-temperature-cured with multifunctional isocyanate to form a three-dimensional network.

Deodorant, Aircraft Toilet

AMS1476C (Current)01/12/2016

This specification covers a biodegradable deodorant in the form of a liquid concentrate, solid, or gel.

AMS J Aircraft Maintenance Chemicals and Materials Committee

Sandwich cores for the future

15AERP12_0212/01/2015

Decreasing weight while increasing strength is always critical, from airliners to future space missions to Mars. Research in sandwich cores today may lead to radical improvements in the future. The search for lighter weight, stronger materials to construct airplanes and spacecraft remains as important as ever. But it takes a long time for new materials in aerospace structures to make their way into production designs. Capital is one reason; it is harder to take risks when it costs so much to develop new composites. Another is the long approval process from regulatory agencies due to safety constraints. “Aerospace is an interesting case because there is a lot that you can do with composites that is being done in [just] a few cases today,” explained Anthony Vicari, Lead Analyst for Advanced Materials for Lux Research, in an interview with Aerospace & Defense Technology.

Morey, Bruce

Sandwich Cores for the Future

TBMG-2356812/01/2015

by Bruce Morey

Smart MMOD Thermal Blanket

TBMG-23211

11/01/2015

This innovation provides for significantly improved protection from micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) particles, and reliably determines the location, depth, and extent of MMOD impact damage.