Overview
ISO 24564:2022 - "Space systems - Adhesives - General requirements" defines general requirements for adhesive selection, bonding processes and quality assurance for adhesives used in space systems. It applies to a wide range of space hardware (launch vehicles, satellites, spacecraft, space station) and to adhesive applications such as bonding, embedding (space-only), sealing, fixing and repairing. The standard guides designers and manufacturers in choosing adhesives that meet environmental, reliability and mission-life demands.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Selection requirements and procedure
- Classification of adhesive applications (fixing, bonding, sealing, embedding, repairing).
- Selection criteria that account for mission environment, joint design and prior qualification of materials.
- Steps for evaluating existing qualified materials and for qualifying new adhesives and processes.
- Primary adhesive characteristics
- Properties to consider before selection including curing behavior, pot life, glass transition (Tg), shrinkage, thermal conductivity and expansion, electrical volume resistivity.
- Test methods and environmental resistance
- Lists of test topics: shrinkage, adhesion, Tg, volume resistivity, thermal decomposition, thermal conductivity, thermal expansion, ground environment durability, outgassing, UV, radiation and atomic oxygen resistance.
- Annex A provides reference tables for property characterization, surface preparation/cleaning and lifetime verification.
- Lifetime verification and failure analysis
- Requirements for lifetime verification testing and procedures for identifying failure modes and preventive measures.
- Adhesive bonding process design and safety
- Process technology, tooling design and environmental/safety protections for bonding operations.
- Quality assurance
- Inspection criteria, traceability requirements and training for workers and inspectors to ensure reproducible bonding and documentation.
Practical applications
- Selecting adhesives for structural and non-structural joints on satellites, payloads and vehicle components.
- Designing bonding processes and tooling for adhesive assembly and embedding of electronic units.
- Verifying adhesive suitability for vacuum, thermal cycling, radiation, UV and atomic-oxygen exposure encountered in space.
- Establishing QA programs, traceability and inspection plans for production and repair of space hardware.
Who should use this standard
- Space systems designers and materials engineers
- Manufacturers and integrators of spacecraft and launch vehicle hardware
- Quality assurance, process and reliability engineers
- Suppliers of adhesives and bonding services for aerospace/space applications
Related standards
- ISO 14624-3 (normative reference for offgassed products / outgassing)
- Other referenced ISO/IEC materials and test-method standards cited in Annex A (e.g., standards on electrical resistivity and thermal properties)
ISO 24564:2022 is essential for ensuring adhesive selection and bonding processes meet the strict reliability, environmental and traceability demands of modern space missions.
