Abstract
In this study, the mass loss effect and the related outgassing of 5224 epoxy resin have been investigated. Subsequent irradiation of 160 keV proton and electron with the fluences ranging from 5.4×1015 to 3.75×1016 cm−2 in vacuum (1.2×10−5 Pa) was performed. The increase of the fluence of proton or electron made the mass loss ratios increase, then level off. The surface roughness of specimens increased followed by augmenting as the function of fluence. The outgassing rate of most molecule ions reached to maximum under the fluences ranging from 5.4×1015 cm−2 to 1.18×1016 cm−2. With further increasing fluence, the outgassing rate decreased owing to the effects of carbon enrichment or even carbonification developed gradually on the surface layer of the irradiated specimens. It is suggested that two events might play vital roles in dominating the magnitude of the outgassing rates: one is the formation of molecule ions; the other is the enrichment of carbon on the surface layer.