From the desert to deep space

• Temperature affects material properties such as yield stress and ultimate stress
• This is why for every material, an operating temperature range exists in which they may be safely used in aerospace
• Thermal stresses and strains can also occur when a material is exposed to a change in temperature

There’s more to air than just nitrogen and oxygen

• Aircraft and spacecraft operating environments can have a great effect on the performance of materials
• Moisture and chemicals can facilitate, or speed up, corrosion processes, or otherwise affect the integrity of a material
• Radiation, such as UV radiation, can degrade materials, particularly polymers; vacuum degassing of materials can also lead to a deterioration of material properties
• It is, therefore, important to research what environment your aircraft or spacecraft will be operating in before making structural and material decisions