Chugoku Kogyo (President: Saneatsu Nomura) announced that it would go ahead with the research and development work of an ultrahigh-pressure composite vessel for space use in collaboration with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Kyushu Institute of Technology, and the three parties signed a joint research agreement. Chugoku Kogyo, one of the major steel cylinder manufacturers for LPG use, has in fact technologies to manufacture large-scaled FRP vessels to store feeds to be used in the livestock industries. As for JAXA, the company has been implementing its trial production and proposal of a high-pressure vessel on the assumption of “use in space” at the request of JAXA. The joint research this time is positioned on an extended line of it. As the vessel is used in space, it requires important factors of “less permeation amount” and “resistance to environment” as well as the “lightweight properties” which is particularly important for transportation to space.

Chugoku Kogyo, in charge of the particular theme of “Effective Research of Filament Winding Pattern (FW) to enhance mass efficiency”, is going to develop an effective method to wind liners which can save the weight of vessel. In addition, the company enters into developments at the side of materials mainly with Kyushu Institute of Technology in joint research in order to seek from the material level a liner which can be applied under the reduced gas permeability and the extreme environmental condition.

The volume and size of vessel will be determined through the upcoming development of the whole FC system, but the permeation amount and the environmental condition have aimed specifications to some extent already now that they are presumed for use in space. According to Chugoku Kogyo, the current plastic vessel a permeation and outward leakage of gas amounting to 2cc per liter every hour. Although it is extremely difficult to prevent leakage itself, but the leaked amount can be reduced to one 10ths by the technological development at this time. The temperature on the surface of moon fluctuates so much that the sunny side has a temperature of about 120℃ but shade side turns out to have a temperature of about -200℃. The vessel must withstand such an intensive change of temperature.

The ultimate target of the joint research this time is not planning of any practical use in space, but is just intended for the development of technologies. However, the company commented about the significance of the joint research, saying “The knowledge obtained in the research and development this time is applicable on earth. Especially, the vessel usable at a low temperature is substantially important with view to the expansion of utilization scope of FRP vessels.”