Effects of Water Vapor on Thermal Shield Materials

Abstract

Three of the materials commonly used to insulate spacecraft from solar radiation are aluminized mylar, aluminized kapton, and silvered teflon. Damage to or deterioration of these materials would lead to large scale temperature excursions of the spacecraft. One possible mechanism for such deterioration would be the occurrence of high humidity prior to launch. A study was conducted to determine the vulnerability of these materials to humidity. It was found that aluminized mylar and aluminized kapton remain unaffected, but that silvered teflon is seriously damaged in a period of hours.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 19, 1977
Accession Number
ADA039737

Entities

People

  • Alfred A. Fote

Organizations

  • The Aerospace Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Reactions
  • Chemistry
  • Corporations
  • Environment
  • High Humidity
  • Humidity
  • Lasers
  • Materials
  • Mechanics
  • Physics
  • Physics Laboratories
  • Radiation
  • Solar Radiation
  • Solar Spectrum
  • Spacecraft
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Water Vapor

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Rocket Propulsion.
  • Surface Coatings Technology.
  • Thermal Physics or Thermal Science.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space