During long-term operation, low-earth-orbit
spacecraft are exposed
to a severe environment of electron irradiation and thermal cycle.
This affects the electric properties of polyimide, an essential insulation
material for spacecraft electrical transmission equipment, particularly
the conductivity characteristic. Therefore, this paper investigates
the conductivity and its evolution of polyimide after the combination
of 20 keV, 8 nA/cm2 electron irradiation, and 243–343
K, 5 K/min thermal cycle in a vacuum environment for 432 h. The results
show that the conductivity increases by about 2 orders of magnitude
over 432 h, with the threshold field for electric-field-dependent
conductivity decreasing. The conductivity growth rate varies, rising
during the first 192 h, then increasing in the midelectric field,
and decreasing in the high electric field regions. The thermally stimulated
depolarization current method demonstrates that increases in γ,
β1, and β2 trap densities, associated
with enhanced motility of end groups, diamines, and dianhydrides after
long-chain breaks, lead to higher conductivity and growth rate. Additionally,
increases in β3 and α trap densities, related
to increased CO bonds and free radicals, reduce the threshold
field and the conductivity growth rate in the range of 57.0–100.0
kV/mm after 192 h. These findings provide a reference for the performance
evaluation and enhancement of spacecraft polyimide materials.