Non-Silicone Inorganic Polymer-Based Coatings for Atomic Oxygen Protection in Leo — Part 2

Abstract

Conventional dimethylsiloxane polymers (silicones) have a high erosion rate in atomic oxygen which makes them unsuitable for long term exposure in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) environment. Advanced silicon-oxygen backbone polymers can exhibit much lower atomic oxygen with vacuum ultraviolet (AO/VUV) erosion rates. However, there is currently a lack of space-qualified polymer coating systems available that can withstand the requirements of 30–35 years exposure in LEO. There is a need for flexible coatings which are stable in the LEO environment.This paper is a continuation of work presented elsewhere by the authors [1]. It describes the performance of proprietary non-dimethylsiloxane inorganic polymers as a coating system resistant to AO/VUV. The protective layer is formed when the coated surface is exposed to AO. These coatings may be suitable for the protection of organic materials and composites in LEO. The inorganic polymer is soluble in common organic solvents and can be applied onto a variety of substrates by inexpensive spinning, spraying, or dip coating techniques. KaptonR polyimide is the primary substrate used in this work, although other materials such as graphite epoxy composite can also be coated. Performance data of the proprietary coating are presented including the erosion rate in terrestrial AOIVUV tests and surface morphology by AFM before and after AOIVUV exposure.KeywordsCoated SampleInorganic PolymerGraphite Epoxy CompositeCanadian Space AgencySpacecraft MaterialThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.