The parameters of a VCM test for the selection of space materials

Materials for space applications must have low outgassing rates at normal operating temperatures and the outgassing products should include a minimum of condensables at the temperatures of nearby surfaces. A screening method, developed years ago, consists of holding a material sample at 398 K (125 C) for 24 hours and measuring its percentage total mass loss (TML) and the percentage volatile condensable mass (VCM) accreted on a 298 K (25 C) collector. In general, the material is acceptable if the TML is less than 1 percent and the VCM is less than 0.1 percent. This paper presents an analysis of the test and its results. It shows that the results of TML and VCM can be used to provide data on outgassing rates and to derive an 'equivalent activation energy' for the material. The energy variables are needed for the calculation of pressure in compartments, the molecular contamination of critical surfaces, and other problems in molecular flow and surface physics. The analysis points out the criticality of the test and its limits with regards to the detection of condensables from certain materials.