Atomic-oxygen-resistant polymer for use in the low earth orbit

An oxygen plasma reactor operating at low pressure (3×10^-2 torr) was used to reproduce within laboratory samples of an experimental atomic-oxygen-resistant polymide coating a degradation morphology and material mass loss similar to that obtained in low earth orbit. The coating, Kapton AOR92-1, was developed to be used as a flexible Kapton solar array blanket. Material erosion rates were measured as a function of flux and fluence and preliminary mechanical property data were obtained. The results indicate the material´s suitability for the intended application. It demonstrated an erosion rate two orders of magnitude better than Kapton and is amenable to large-scale production