The erosion effect of Kapton film in a ground-based atomic oxygen irradiation simulator

Abstract

In order to investigate the effect of space environmental factors on spacecraft materials, a ground-based simulation facility for space atomic oxygen (AO) irradiation was developed in our laboratory. Some Kapton film samples were subjected to AO beam generated by this facility. The Kapton films before and after AO exposure were analyzed comparatively using optical microscopy, scanning electronic microscopy, atomic force microscopy, high-precision microbalance, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The experimental results indicate that the transmittance of Kapton film will be reduced by AO irradiation notably, and its color deepens from pale yellow to brown. Surface roughness of the AO-treated sample is already increased obviously after AO irradiation for 5 hours, and exhibits a flannel-like appearance after 15 hours’ exposure in AO beam. The imide rings and benzene rings in kapton molecule are partially decomposed, and some new bonds form during AO irradiation. The mass loss of kapton film increases linearly with the increase of AO fluence, which is resulted from the formation of volatile products, such as CO, CO₂ and NO _x. The breakage in structure and degradation in properties of AO-treated Kapton film can be attributed to the integrated effect of impaction and oxidization of AO beam. The test results agree well with the space flight experimental data.

Keywords

space environment simulation / low earth orbit / atomic oxygen / Kapton film / erosion mechanism

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