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Synergistic effects of ultraviolet radiation, thermal cycling and atomic oxygen on altered and coated Kapton surfacesThe photovoltaic (PV) power system for Space Station Freedom (SSF) uses solar array blankets which provide structural support for the solar cells and house the electrical interconnections. In the low earth orbital (LEO) environment where SSF will be located, surfaces will be exposed to potentially damaging environmental conditions including solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation, thermal cycling, and atomic oxygen. It is necessary to use ground based tests to determine how these environmental conditions would affect the mass loss and optical properties of candidate SSF blanket materials. Silicone containing, silicone coated, and SiO(x) coated polyimide film materials were exposed to simulated LEO environmental conditions to determine their durability and whether the environmental conditions of UV, thermal cycling and oxygen atoms act synergistically on these materials. A candidate PV blanket material called AOR Kapton, a polysiloxane polyimide cast from a solution mixture, shows an improvement in durability to oxygen atoms erosion after exposure to UV radiation or thermal cycling combined with UV radiation. This may indicate that the environmental conditions react synergistically with this material, and the damage predicted by exposure to atomic oxygen alone is more severe than that which would occur in LEO where atomic oxygen, thermal cycling and UV radiation are present together.
Document ID
19920044501
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Dever, Joyce A.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Bruckner, Eric J.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Rodriguez, Elvin
(Cleveland State University OH, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1992
Subject Category
Chemistry And Materials (General)
Report/Patent Number
AIAA PAPER 92-0794
Accession Number
92A27125
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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