Abstract
The structure and properties of nanocomposites based on organosoluble polyimide (PI) and branched functional metallosiloxane oligomers with different types of central metal atoms (Al, Cr, Fe, Zr, Hf and Nb) were investigated. Under the same weight content of the filler, the geometric parameters of the nanoparticles and thermal properties of the nanocomposites did not exhibit a direct relationship with the ability of the materials to withstand the incident flow of oxygen plasma. The atomic oxygenerosion resistance of the filled PI films was influenced by the composition of the hybrid fillerand the type of metal atom in the hybrid filler in the base metallosiloxane oligomer. To determine the effectiveness of the nanoparticles as protective elements of the polymer surface, the nanocomposite erosion yields pertaining to the concentration of the crosslinked organo–inorganic polymer forming the dispersed phase were determined and expressed in mmol per gram PI. The filler concentration in the polymer, expressed in these units, allows for comparison of the efficiency of different nanosize fillers for use in fabricating space survivable coatings. This can be important in the pursuit of new precursors, fillers for fabricating space survivable polymer composites.
Highlights
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]
It is possible to identify techniques to increase the resistance of polymeric materials, especially that of polyimide (PI) coatings, to atomic oxygen (AO)
The Tg values of the filled PI exceeded the temperature of the onset of the thermo-oxidative degradation of the filler (Td ); these values were lower than the corresponding matrix polymer temperature
Summary
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]. A protective silica layer is formed after the ablation of the upper organic layer and oxidation of the Si–O–Si moiety to a SiO2 passivating layer [21,29,30,31] Based on this mechanism, it is possible to identify techniques to increase the resistance of polymeric materials, especially that of polyimide (PI) coatings, to AO. SiO2 particles and ZrO2 [32,33], TiO2 [34] or Al2 O3 [35] particles into the PI can enhance the resistance of the PI materials to the action of AO This mechanism of erosion protection against AO is exploited when using PI filled with sol-gel through traditional precursors of the inorganic component of the composition (organofunctional silanes, metal alkoxides or their mixtures [36,37,38,39]). The presented findings can provide guidance for the development of a new effective strategy to fabricatepolymer coatings and films with excellent atomic oxygen resistant properties
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