Abstract
Polyimide film (Kapton) is an important polymer material used for the construction of spacecrafts. The performance of Kapton can be degraded for atomic oxygen erosion in space. Commonly used atomic oxygen protective layers have issues such as poor toughness and poor adhesion with the film. In this paper, Kapton/Al2O3 nanocomposite films were prepared via an ion exchange method, and the optical properties, mechanical properties, and mechanisms for the change in the mass and microstructure, before and after atomic oxygen exposure, were analyzed. The results show that the deposition of the Kapton/Al2O3 surface nanocomposite film prepared via the ion exchange method has no obvious effects on the internal structure and optical transmittance of the Kapton film matrix. The tensile strength and elongation of the prepared film were much higher than those of the pure Kapton film, demonstrating its good flexibility. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis showed that the etching pits had a carpet-like morphology on the composite film surface and were relatively small after atomic oxygen erosion. In contrast with the C–C bond rupture in the oxydianiline (ODA) benzene in Kapton films, the Kapton/Al2O3 nanocomposite film mainly destroyed the C=C bond in the pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) benzene ring. On exposure to an atomic oxygen environment for a short period, the Kapton/Al2O3 nanocomposite film exhibited improved atomic oxygen erosion resistance because the Al2O3 layer inhibited atomic oxygen diffusion. With increasing atomic oxygen exposure time, the atomic oxygen diffused into the Kapton matrix via the pores of the Al2O3 layer, causing damage to the substrate. This resulted in a detachment of the surface Al2O3 layer and exposure of the Kapton matrix, and thereby the atomic oxygen resistance was decreased. The applicability of the ion exchange mechanism of trivalent Al element on the surface modification of the polyimide is explored in this study. The behavior of the Kapton/Al2O3 composite film under the atomic oxygen environment of space is investigated, which provides the basis for studying the effects of atomic oxygen on the flexible protective Kapton film.
Highlights
Polyimide films have been widely used for the development and application of components including thermal control coatings, flexible solar panels, and thin film mirrors, owing to their excellent resistance to high and low temperature, radiation resistance, chemical stability, insulation, and high strength [1,2]
Under the action of atomic oxygen, the polyimide film suffers a degradation in its performance, such as mass loss, surface roughening, and a reduction in strength, which seriously affects the operation of the spacecraft [3,4]
To maintain the flexibility of the polyimide film and simultaneously improve its compatibility with the atomic oxygen environment in space, a Kapton/Al2 O3 surface nanocomposite film was prepared via the ion exchange method
Summary
Polyimide films have been widely used for the development and application of components including thermal control coatings, flexible solar panels, and thin film mirrors, owing to their excellent resistance to high and low temperature, radiation resistance, chemical stability, insulation, and high strength [1,2]. Chemical surface modification of the polyimide via the ion exchange method can form a metal or metal oxide functional nanocomposite layer on the surface of the film, without changing its original properties, such as the polyimide’s flexibility [20,21]. To maintain the flexibility of the polyimide film and simultaneously improve its compatibility with the atomic oxygen environment in space, a Kapton/Al2 O3 surface nanocomposite film was prepared via the ion exchange method. The practical behavior of the Kapton/Al2 O3 composite films in an atomic oxygen environment mimicking space was evaluated
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