Water-Deuterium Oxide Exchange in Polymers Used in Spacecraft Applications.

Abstract

The replacement of water (H2O) by deuterium oxide (D2O) and the exchange between atmospheric water and adsorpbed or absorbed D2O were investigated for the polymeric materials Kapton and Mylar using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Replacement of H2O by D2O is easily accomplished. However, exposure of D2O samples to the ambient atmosphere or gases containing H2O results in rapid proton and deuteron exchange between H2O vapor and adsorbed D2O. Replacement of H2O by D2O would not be a practical solution to alleviate spectral interferences that would result from water outgassing in spacecraft orbital environments. Maintaining the materials of interest in a dehydrated state is a more reasonable approach. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 15, 1981
Accession Number
ADA098714

Entities

People

  • David J. Carre

Organizations

  • The Aerospace Corporation

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Absorption
  • Adsorption
  • Air Force
  • Atmospheres
  • Body Weight
  • Bulk Materials
  • Chemistry
  • Desorption
  • Deuterium
  • Environment
  • Flow Rate
  • Gravimetric Analysis
  • Heavy Water
  • Hydration
  • Materials
  • Outgassing
  • Spacecraft

Readers

  • Electrochemical Engineering/ Fuel Cell Technologies
  • Polymer Science and Engineering.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space