Behavior of pure and modified carbon/carbon composites in atomic oxygen environment

Abstract

Atomic oxygen (AO) is considered the most erosive particle to spacecraft materials in low earth orbit (LEO). Carbon fiber, carbon/carbon (C/C), and some modified C/C composites were exposed to a simulated AO environment to investigate their behaviors in LEO. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), AO erosion rate calculation, and mechanical property testing were used to characterize the material properties. Results show that the carbon fiber and C/C specimens undergo significant degradation under the AO bombing. According to the effects of AO on C/C-SiC and CVD-SiC-coated C/C, a condensed CVD-SiC coat is a feasible approach to protect C/C composites from AO degradation.

Keywords

atomic oxygen / oxidation / carbon/carbon composites / ceramic matrix composites

References

[1] Christin F. Design, fabrication, and application of thermostructural composites (TSC) like C/C, C/SiC, and SiC/SiC composites. Adv. Eng. Mater., 2002, 4(12): 903.

[2] Tenney D R, Lisagor WB, Dixon SC. Materials and structures for hypersonic vehicles. J. Aircr., 1989, 26(11): 953.

[3] Roenneke A J, Cornwell PJ. Trajectory control for a low-lift re-entry vehicle. J. Guid. Control Dyn., 1993, 16(5): 927.

[4] Banks B A, Snyder A, Miller SK, De Groh KK, Demko R. Atomic-oxygen undercutting of protected polymers in low earth orbit. J. Spacecr. Rockets, 2004, 41(3): 335.

[5] Awaja F, Moon JB, Zhang SN, Gilbert M, Kim CG, Pigram PJ. Surface molecular degradation of 3D glass polymer composite under low earth orbit simulated space environment. Polym. Degrad. Stab., 2010, 95(6): 987.

[6] Wang W W, Li CZ, Zhang JY, Diao XG. Effects of atomic oxygen treatment on structures, morphologies and electrical properties of ZnO:Al films. Appl. Surf. Sci., 2010, 256(14): 4527.

[7] Duo S W, Li MS, Zhu M, Zhou YC. Polydimethylsiloxane/silica hybrid coatings protecting Kapton from atomic oxygen attack. Mater. Chem. Phys., 2008, 112(3): 1093.

[8] De Groh K K, Banks BA, Mccarthy CE, Rucker RN, Roberts LM, Berger LA. MISSE 2 PEACE polymers atomic oxygen erosion experiment on the international space station. High Perform. Polym., 2008, 20(4–5): 388.

[9] Wu S J, Cheng LF, Zhang LT, Xu YD, Zhang Q. Comparison of oxidation behaviors of 3D C/PyC/SiC and SiC/PyC/SiC composites in an O₂-Ar atmosphere. Mater. Sci. Eng. B, 2006, 130(1–3): 215.

[10] Cheng L F, Xu YD, Zhang LT, Gao R. Effect of glass sealing on the oxidation behavior of three dimensional C/SiC composites in air. Carbon, 2001, 39(8): 1127.

[11] Fan S W, Zhang LT, Xu YD, Cheng LF, Lou JJ, Zhang JZ, Yu L. Microstructure and properties of 3D needle-punched carbon/silicon carbide brake materials. Compos. Sci. Technol., 2007, 67(11–12): 2390.

[12] Zhao X H, Shen ZG, Xing YS, Ma SL. A study of the reaction characteristics and mechanism of Kapton in a plasma-type ground-based atomic oxygen effects simulation facility. J. Phys. D, 2001, 34(15): 2308.

[13] Zhao X H, Shen ZG, Xing YS, Ma SL. An experimental study of low earth orbit atomic oxygen and ultraviolet radiation effects on a spacecraft material-polytetrafluoroethylene. Polym. Degrad. Stab., 2005, 88(2): 275.

[14] Reddy M R. Effect of low earth orbit atomic oxygen on spacecraft materials. J. Mater. Sci., 1995, 30(2): 281.

[15] Miller S KR, Banks BA, Sechkar E. Kleiman JI. An investigation of stress dependent atomic oxygen erosion of black Kapton observed on MISSE 6. Protection of Materials and Structures from the Space Environment, 2013, Dordrecht, Springer, 271.