Atomic Oxygen Resistant Films for Multi-Layer Insulation

Abstract

A series of advanced polymer films from Triton Systems is being developed to meet the challenges of harsh space environmental effects, lighter weight requirements and superior thermal control performance demands. With support from NASA, Triton Systems Inc has developed advanced new materials for thermal control films with exceptional properties and durability in the space environment. These films known as TOR™ and TOR-LM™ are amber coloured, mechanically sound, produced in continuous rolls and have undergone substantial ground-based simulation and confirming space validation tests. These films are highly resistant to atomic oxygen erosion, and have excellent vacuum ultraviolet radiation stability in ground-based simulation tests. Two applications for these films include large inflatable structures that are either deployed in low earth orbit (LEO) or travel through a LEO orbit into higher orbits, and as outer metallized layers in multi-layer insulation (MLI) blankets.

This paper discusses the processing of these advanced materials into thin films, metallization of the films and characterization of their environmental durability as well as other physical, optical, thermal and mechanical properties.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

[1] First LDEF Post-Retrieval Sym. Abstracts (June 2–8, 1991) (NASA CP)

[2] LDEF Materials Workshop ‘91’ (November 19–22, 1991) (NASA CP 3162)

[3] 3rd LDEF Post Retrieval Symp. Abstracts (1993) (NASA CP 10120)

[4] Connell J W , Smith J G Jr and Hergenrother P M 1994 Proc. Am. Chemical Society (Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering Proceedings, vol 70) p 492-492

[5] Connell et al (The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of The National Aeronautics and Space Administration) 1994 US Patent Specification 5 245 044

[6] Connell et al (The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of The National Aeronautics and Space Administration) 1994 US Patent Specification 5 317 078

[7] Connell et al (The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of The National Aeronautics and Space Administration) 1995 US Patent Specification 5 412 059

[8] Connell et al (The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of The National Aeronautics and Space Administration) 1994 US Patent Application No. 08/186, 184

[9] Smith C D , Grubbs H , Webster H F , Gungor A , Wightman J P and McGrath J E 1991 High Perf. Polym. 3 211-211

10.

[10] Smith J G Jr , Connell J W and Hergenrother P M 1994 Polymer 35 2834-2834

11.

[11] Connell J W , Smith J G Jr and Hergenrother P M 1995 Polymer 36 5-5

12.

[12] Connell J W , Smith J G Jr and Hedrick J 1995 Polymer 36 5-5, 13-13

13.

[13] Connell J W , Smith J G Jr , Kalil C G and Siochi E J 1998 Polymers Adv. Technol. 9 11-11

14.

[14] Zwiener J M et al 1998 MIR-ISSA Risk Mitigation Flight Experiment RME One Year Report web page http://setaswww.larc.nasa.gov/meep/meep.html

15.

[15] Vaughn J et al 1996 Development of world class test facilities to simulate space environment, AIAA Paper # 96-4378

16.

[16] Peters W C 1997

Ultraviolet degradation testing of Triton Systems Inc. coatings

Summary Report

17.

[17] Stuckey W K , Meshishnek M J , Hanna W D and Ross F D 1998

Space environmental test of materials for inflatable structures

Aerospace Report # TR-98 (1055)-1