Title :
Atomic-oxygen-resistant polymer for use in the low earth orbit
Author :
Vance, D.A. ; McCargo, M. ; Hastert, R. ; Katz, M. ; Ochsner, J.P.
Author_Institution :
Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA
Abstract :
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
Keywords :
polymers; solar cell arrays; Kapton AOR92-1; LEO; atomic-oxygen-resistant polymer; degradation morphology; flexible Kapton solar array blanket; fluence; flux; low earth orbit; material erosion rates; material mass loss; mechanical property data; polymide; Atomic measurements; Coatings; Degradation; Extraterrestrial measurements; Inductors; Laboratories; Low earth orbit satellites; Morphology; Plasma materials processing; Polymers;
Conference_Titel :
Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, 1989. IECEC-89., Proceedings of the 24th Intersociety
Conference_Location :
Washington, DC
DOI :
10.1109/IECEC.1989.74849
