Electrostatic charging characteristics of thermal control paints as function of temperature

The charging characteristics of paints for various uses on spacecraft under electron bombardment were studied. It was found that there is not a strong temperature dependence of the charging characteristics between -155 C and +30 C; and there is a noticeable hystereis effect as the electron beam energy is varied. Furthermore, all of the paints tested exhibit large secondary yields at low (approx. 1 keV) bombarding electron energies; and surfaces can charge either positively or negatively depending on the conditions and the paint. It was concluded that paints are not simple, will require more detailed study, and will probably act differently in multiple energy electron tests.