Thermal Straps
Flexible Copper and Graphite Thermal Strap Assemblies
Thermal strap assemblies are flexible conductors fabricated from braided copper or graphite fibers that bridge thermal paths between vibration-isolated or movable components and fixed cold plates. Within lunar thermal control systems, these straps must accommodate structural movement driven by differential thermal expansion. Multi-strand braided copper and pitch-55 graphite fiber architectures provide mechanical flexibility and redundancy against strand failure, though strain from fatigue cycling risks breaking individual strands and degrading thermal conductance. To prevent copper oxidation in trace atmospheres, terminals utilize gold plating, safeguarding mission-critical junctions such as cryogenic links between cryocooler cold heads and sample containers.
Flexible conductive straps providing thermal paths between components and cold plates
Purpose
Bridge thermal gaps between vibration-isolated or movable components and thermal sinks
Context
Child of L2-TCS-INTF in the Active Thermal Control System
Principles
- ▸Braided copper straps provide flexibility while maintaining high thermal conductance
- ▸Graphite fiber straps offer better conductance-to-mass ratio than copper
- ▸Strap flexibility accommodates differential thermal expansion and vibration isolation
- ▸Multiple parallel strands provide redundancy against individual strand failure
Typical implementations
- ▸Technology Applications Inc. (TAI) copper thermal straps (NASA heritage)
- ▸Thermotive graphite fiber thermal straps
- ▸K-Technology carbon-carbon thermal straps
- ▸Custom braided copper thermal links for cryocooler cold fingers
Lunar considerations
- ▸Thermal straps must accommodate movement from structural thermal expansion
- ▸Copper oxidation in trace atmosphere could degrade conductance (use gold plating)
- ▸Strap thermal conductance degrades if strands break from fatigue cycling
- ▸Cryogenic straps between cryocooler cold head and sample containers are mission-critical
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Flexible conductive straps providing thermal paths between components and cold plates |
Physical
| materials | OFHC copper braid, Pitch-55 graphite fiber, Gold-plated copper terminals |
Interfaces
Provides
- Flexible thermal links between components and heat sinks
Requires
- Mounting points for strap terminal blocks
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Thermal Straps" (L3-TCS-INTF-STRAP). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-TCS-INTF-STRAP
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.