Hyperthermal atomic oxygen durable transparent silicon-reinforced polyimide

Abstract

A clear poly(amic acid) was reinforced by a trisilanolphenyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) by direct dissolution, and transparent silicon-reinforced polyimide (Si-RPI) films with different POSS loadings were obtained after curing, showing high transmittance of >90% within 380–800 nm. The Si-RPI films were exposed to a ground hyperthermal atomic oxygen (AO) beam. The erosion depths and derived erosion yields of the materials decreased with POSS loadings. At a 20 wt% POSS loading, the Si-RPI showed an erosion yield of 0.13 × 10−24 cm3 atom−1 at a fluence of 2.79 × 1020 O atoms cm−2. Surface morphology and element composition characterization on Si-RPI indicated that SiOx-based passivating layers were formed on surfaces upon the hyperthermal AO attack. This study suggests a facile way of reinforcing Si into transparent polyimide for a promising candidate of spacecraft coating material operating in low Earth orbit.

Double‐Layer Nacre‐Inspired Polyimide‐Mica Nanocomposite Films with Excellent Mechanical Stability for LEO Environmental Conditions

“…results confirmed that the designed double-layer brick-and-mortar structure with a denser top layer efficiently contributed to the AO-resistance of the double-layer PI-Mica film. This double-layer PI-Mica film also showed superior AO resistance (E = 0.17 × 10 −24 cm −3 atoms −1 ) over previously reported PI-based composite materials (Figure 3i and Table S2, Supporting Information) [4,8,11,13,31,[49][50][51] when the AO fluence reached 3.09 × 10 20 atoms cm −2 .…”

“…After AO exposure, the POSS transforms into a SiO 2 passivation layer on the surface, preventing AO from further eroding the PI films. [12][13][14] In addition, the mechanical properties of POSS-PI composite films are superior to those of pure PI films. [15] However, POSS monomer is expensive and its synthesis is complicated, making it difficult to produce for large-scale applications.…”

Improved atomic oxygen erosion resistance of the carbon fibre–epoxy interface with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane

“…6 Spacecraft that collide with ambient AO in LEO can have their components oxidized and eroded by the high translational energy of 4–4.5 eV and flux of 10 13 –10 15 atoms cm −2 s −1 . 7 Therefore, the development of an effective approach to enhance the AO resistance of CF/EP composites has received much attention in recent years.…”

Atomic Oxygen-Resistant Epoxy-amines Containing Phenylphosphine Oxide as Low Earth Orbit Stable Polymers

“…A major thrust in current research has focused on the incorporation of AO-resistant moieties such as phosphine oxide or siloxane directly into the backbone of polymers to avoid the shape and CTE limitations of coatings. ,, In particular, the strategy of incorporating phenylphosphine oxide (PPO) groups into polymers has attracted widespread attention as a particularly effective way of imparting AO resistance. ,, Connell and co-workers at the NASA Langley Research Center pioneered a series of PPO-containing polymers and demonstrated their AO and oxygen plasma resistance. − It was demonstrated that polymers containing 3–7 wt % phosphorus exhibited high glass transition temperatures ( T g ) and Young’s moduli . Based on these developments, a series of polyimides containing PPO have been prepared, but studies to understand the potential of PPO resistance to AO in other polymers have been limited. , …”

“…A major thrust in current research has focused on the incorporation of AO-resistant moieties such as phosphine oxide or siloxane directly into the backbone of polymers to avoid the shape and CTE limitations of coatings. 11,13,14 In particular, the strategy of incorporating phenylphosphine oxide (PPO) groups into polymers has attracted widespread attention as a particularly effective way of imparting AO resistance. 8,11,15 Connell and co-workers at the NASA Langley Research Center pioneered a series of PPO-containing polymers and demonstrated their AO and oxygen plasma resistance.…”