The research aimed at investigating the possibility of obtaining thin intermetallic films, which can be used as thermal control coatings for spacecraft. The coating films build the passive part of the overall thermal control system of a spacecraft, thus they must provide strong adhesion with the carrier material and have high functional characteristics, optical ones in particular. The study concerned issues of synthesis of stable intermetallic phase of Al 4 Cu 9 , Al 2 Cu, Cu 5 Zn 8 on aluminum and copper carriers by magnetron layer-wise sputtering of reagents. They have looked into patterns of emergence of intermetallic coating applying modes of "rapid" and "slow" sputtering of reagents, applying various thicknesses of sputtered layers of reagents, temperature of the carrier, heat treatment of sprayed coatings. Incomplete and complete modes of synthesis of intermetallic coverage have been discovered. Obtained cross-sectional images of coatings, outcomes of microanalyzer scanning of reagent distribution through the thickness of sputtered coatings, microhardness values, optical absorption and emission ratios, unit of electric resistances, adhesion to the carrier. Obtained prototypes of intermetallic thermostatic coatings could be used in "solar reflectors" and "solar absorbers" classes. The results of measurements of optical and strength characteristics revealed that the intermetallic films can be used not only as thermostatic coatings for space technology, but also in general mechanical engineering, due to high-end mechanical properties.

Abstract. It was studied the ways of obtaining the aluminide intermetallic coatings of Al-Ag, Al-Ti, Al-Cr, Al-V and Al-Mn systems by method of simultaneous magnetron sputtering of the reagents. It was produced the synthesis of coatings from stable phases AlAg 2 +Ag 3 Al, AlCr 2 , Al 8 Cr 5 , AlCr 2 + Al 8 Cr 5 , AlTi, AlTi 3 , Al 8 Mn 5 . The coatings with thickness of 2 µm were carried out on the aluminum and the carbon fiber plates. The study of the coatings was carried out on X-ray diffractometer, the microhardness and electrical conductivity were measured. It was shown that after sputtering of the reagents on the substrate the amorphous, glassy phase is formed except for intermetallic phases Al 8 V 5 and Al 3 V which were formed during sputtering. It is necessary the heat treatment in a vacuum at 400˚C during 1 hour for the synthesis of the intermetallic compound from the amorphous phase. The amorphous phase had a microhardness in the range of 2237-8219 MPa, intermetallic -1929-8181 MPa. For comparison, the microhardness of high quality steel is about 5500 MPa. The coatings were electroconductive. The coatings are of interest as protective for soft metals, carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), and plastic materials.