Abstract
Polyimides are widely used as spacecraft external surfaces materials. They are exposed to atomic oxygen (AO), which is the main constituent of a residual atmosphere at low Earth orbit (LEO) and should be protected from the space harsh environment. This work presents an innovative approach to applying a protective coating on Kapton polyimide using liquid‐phase deposition (LPD) and shows its effectiveness in reduction of AO‐induced surface erosion.Titania coatings, 100 nm thick, were deposited on Kapton films by LPD using an aqueous solution of a metal‐fluoride complex and boric acid at near ambient conditions. Adherent, crack‐free, coatings have been obtained by optimization of the deposition conditions, the substrate surface pre‐treatment procedure and post‐deposition drying. Characterization of the oxide coating included Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in tapping and nano‐indentation modes, Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM), and X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS).The durability of the t...
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
