Spacecraft Charging Material Properties Database

- Accumulation of excess negative charge generates potential differences between spacecraft ground and space (frame potential), between two points on the spacecraft surface or within materials (differential potential)
- An electrostatic discharge (ESD) results when electric fields associated with potential differences (E = -∇Φ) exceed the dielectric breakdown strength of materials allowing charge to flow in an arc
- Magnitude of damage depends on energy available to an arc E = ½CV^2
- Charging to a potential V depends on electrical properties of materials
- Surface and volume resistivity
- Dielectric constant
- Secondary and backscattered electron yields, photoemission yields
- Dielectric breakdown strength