Synergetic effect of the action of atomic oxygen and vacuum ultraviolet radiation on polymers in the Earth’S ionosphere

Abstract

A procedure for the bench test simulation of the physicochemical interactions of polymers with flows of atomic oxygen and vacuum ultraviolet radiation in the ionosphere of the Earth has been developed.The threshold values of the ratios of the vacuum ultraviolet flux density to the flux of atomic oxygen, which characterize the synergistic effect on the ablation of polymers (the polyimides Kapton H and PM 1E, poly ethylene, and Teflon 100A) have been obtained.

Analysis of Physical–Chemical Properties and Space Environment Adaptability of Two-Component RTV Silicone Rubber

“…Spacecraft will suffer from the harsh environment and synergistic effects in low earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude between 200 and 700 km, , such as high fluence of atomic oxygen (AO), changed particles, thermal cycling, and full spectrum of solar radiation, which can cause critical damages of polymers in spacecraft structures, so it is very necessary to protect the naked polymers from space flight. Because of the advantages of processability, chemical and thermal stability, and excellent adaptability for large-area complex surfaces, the protective coating is widely used for functional protection of the long-life spacecraft surface, e.g., thermal control coatings on satellite surfaces and AO protective coatings of solar array paddle. , …”

“…By adding the curing agent in certain organic binders, the curing of coating may be performed at room temperature, which can provide processing convenience for various shapes . Therefore, various functional protective coatings use organic materials (polyacrylic resin, epoxy resin, and silicone resin, which were named RW, ACR103, and S781, respectively, for the thermal control coating) as the coating binder. − Due to the special properties of silicon, the coating binder with organocsilicon as the continuous phase has excellent thermal oxidation stability, heat resistance, aging resistance, and physiological inertness . As an important composition of organocsilicon, the two-component RTV SR combines the advantages of both inorganic and organic properties, which can achieve deep vulcanization without the limitation of the thickness of the adhesive layer …”

“…Because of the advantages of processability, chemical and thermal stability, and excellent adaptability for large-area complex surfaces, the protective coating is widely used for functional protection of the long-life spacecraft surface, 4 e.g., thermal control coatings on satellite surfaces and AO protective coatings of solar array paddle. 5,6 Polyimide (PI) has been used on spacecraft for a wide variety of functions including solar array paddle, solar sail, satellite antenna, etc. ; 7 however, as a prominent hazard in LEO, AO has an erosion effect on the PI film, which could reduce the reliability of the spacecraft.…”

“…15−18 Due to the special properties of silicon, the coating binder with organocsilicon as the continuous phase has excellent thermal oxidation stability, heat resistance, aging resistance, and physiological inertness. 6 composition of organocsilicon, the two-component RTV SR combines the advantages of both inorganic and organic properties, 19 which can achieve deep vulcanization without the limitation of the thickness of the adhesive layer. 6 The two-component RTV SR serves also as the interface adhesive between the solar cell and PI in solar arrays.…”

Influence of the Composition of the Hybrid Filler on the Atomic Oxygen Erosion Resistance of Polyimide Nanocomposites

“…High-performance polymeric materials, for example polyimides, are extensively used in constructing spacecraft elements, in the form of coatings or binders of composite materials [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. In space, the incoming atomic oxygen (AO) flow causes the erosion and oxidation of polymeric material surfaces, which considerably limits the spacecraft life [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”