Under the simulation environment for the vacuum and heat sink in space, the changes in optical and electrical properties of transparent conductive indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films induced by radiation of protons with 100 keV were studied. The ITO thin films were deposited on JGS1 quartz substrate by a sol-gel method. The sheet resistance and transmittance spectra of the ITO thin films were measured using the four-point probe method and a spectrophotometer, respectively. The surface morphology was analyzed by AFM. The experimental results showed that the electrical and optical performances of the ITO thin films were closely related to the irradiation fluence. When the fluence exceeded a given value 2×1016 cm-2, the sheet resistance increased obviously and the optical transmittance decreased. The AFM analysis indicated that the grain size of the ITO thin films diminished. The studies about the radiation effect on ITO thin films will help to predict performance evolution of the second surface mirrors on satellites under space radiation environment.

In this paper, ceramic coatings prepared on 2024 Al alloy surface in electrolyte by micro-arc oxidation are studied. The parameter of discharge and rate of ceramic coating formation are investigated. We analyzed microstructure and phase composition of the coatings by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and studied the tribological performance of the coatings. The reactions on the electrode surface are deduced and the mechanism of coating formation has been analyzed. The results show that the relation between the thickness and reaction time is not linear. The ceramic coatings contain phase γ-Al2O3 andα-Al2O3; there is a big difference in contents of phase composition between inner coating and outer coating due to the different cooling rates of them. In MAO process, the coating undergoes a course of melting, solidifying and cooling. The coating can be divided into three layers, namely, transition layer, compact layer, and loose layer. The coating and substrate adheres firmly by a metallurgical process. Not only the elements of electrolyte (K, Si) and substrate (Cu) are found in the coatings but also the element of cathode (Fe). The Si-Al-O complex compound is formed in the discharge channels under high energy density condition.

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Based on the principle of sphere generating and Electrolytic-Abrasive Machining (EAM), a new EAM method —Electrolytic-Abrasive Sphere Finishing is developed. In the experiments, the tubular cathode is covered by unwoven nylon cloth, and the abrasive grains are provided together with electrolyte which flows through the tool electrode. This paper chiefly clarifies the features of this method, the selecting bases for the running specifications and the ways to control low current density. The experimental results show that the pulse current is conducive to paucity of metal removal, and mirror or quasi-mirror finish can be achieved conveniently.