Dr. Koorosh Guidanean

Dr. Guidanean has led the efforts to define manufacturing techniques for thin film penaids under SRMP, Firefly and Red Tigress I. His characterizations of the materials include vendor discussions and lab testing to produce a workable material/adhesive/procedure for manufacture.; Testing includes "crinkle" testing, pressure testing, pull tests, various ASME standard tests, and intense thermal cycling. His effort was considered by the Army to be a high point of the SRMP program. Decoys were built from mylar, kapton, PCN, and Tedlar.

The key parameters determining a penaid optical performance include the surface solar absorptivity and emissivity.Control of these is needed also to avoid temperature extremes that could damage the materials. Techniques he has used include selection of special sputtered coating, controlled silk-screening, dyes, and screening of off-the-shelf pigments.

Metalizing is usually needed for RCS.  On SRMP, Guidanean discovered that the DC conductivity of metalized films degrades substantially during handling if normal metalizing techniques are used. As a result special methods (multilayer coats, film outgassing, metallic inks) have been developed and used for flight systems.

Dr. Guidanean explored a variety of techniques to etch radar-enhancer patterns into the SRMP balloon decoys.  Various chemical means such as used to produce circuit boards were investigated, but the ultimate design he chose was a silk-screen conductive paint.  He developed methods of application and protection for these precision patterns.

OTHER EXPERIENCE:

Dr. Guidanean has a broad experience in synthesis, characterization and application of polymers. He has been involved in R&D on polymeric materials both at Manchester University in the UK and the R&D Div. of National Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC). In addition to this, he has taught courses in polymer chemistry at Tehran Polytechnics. Dr. Guidanean has invented new types of liquid polyesters (used as PVC plasticizers and polyols for urethane elastomer) polyamides and polyurethane. He has developed special sulfurless cured natural rubber compounds with properties comparable to their sulfur cured counterparts. He has successfully completed a project which was aimed at developing a high performance rubber for Army tank tracks. In addition, he is involved in the selection, characterization, processing, and handling of materials used in the Sounding Rocket Measurements Program (SRMP) and the Firefly Programs. Dr. Guidanean has developed complex laminates and metalized films for the above programs.

He has developed special composites to meet lightweight target (LWT) or other space structures requirement.  These include the special cloth/plastic laminate used on the Firefly LWT, ad the rigidizing laminate used on the deployable solar array. He maintains open communications with NASA, University, and other specialists in his field.

EDUCATION: BS Chemistry University of Tehran, 1968

MS Chemistry University of Tehran, 1970

PhD Chemistry University of Manchester, 1973

PUBLICATIONS:

"Synthesis of Tridecanedioic (Brassylic) Acid from Seed Oil of Crambe Abyssinica," J. Macromol Sci. Chem. A10(7), pp. 1391-1398 (1976).

"Polyester Plasticizers Based on Tridecanedioic Acid for PVC," J. Macromol Sci. Chem.  A10(7), pp. 1399-1414 (1976).

"Polyurethane Elastomers Based on Tridecanedioic Acid," J. Macromol Sci. Chem. A10(7), pp. 1415-1424 (1976).

"Polyamides Based on Tridecanedioic Acid," J. Macromol Sci. Chem. A10(7), pp. 1425-1439 (1976).

"Utilization of Crambe Oil for Polymer Applications," Ph.D. thesis presented to Manchester University, December 1973.

"Determination of Vanadium in Crude Oil by Benzohydroxamic Acid," M.Sc. thesis presented to Tehran University, June 1970.

"Inflatable/rigidizable Materials," L'Garde Report LTR-89-DC-009, May 1989. Final Report prepared for Martin Marietta Aerospace.

"Inflatable Structure Technology Program," LTR-89-DS-033, Final Report on INSTEP (SAR) program.

"Development of High Temperature Resistant Elastomers for Geothermal Applications," LTR-88-KG-011, April 1988. Final Report prepared for Brookhaven National Laboratories and DOE.

"Near Term Tank Track Development," LTR-88-KG-002, February 1988. Final Report prepared for U. S. Army, Automotive Command.