Surface Modifications to Minimise the the Electrostatic Charging of Kapton in the Space Environment,

Abstract

Electrostatic charging of Kapton under electron irradiation is reduced by coating it with a dispersion of indium oxide in a soluble polyimide. The proportion of oxide in the coating and its thickness are chosen to give an optimum balance between the surface resistivity and the thermo-optical properties of the film. Coatings having a resistivity (10 million ohms/square) exhibited surface voltages below 250V when irradiated with 30keV electrons. Implanting Kapton with ions derived from N2, H2, or CH4, plasmas also gave low surface resistivities and reduced its susceptibility to electrostatic charging. Hydrogen ions were the most effective, but caused greater changes in thermo-optical properties than the ions of the other gases. The above materials are easily and economically produced and may therefore offer practicable alternatives to the existing modified forms of Kapton when it is necessary to minimise electrostatic charging on spacecraft.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1987
Accession Number
ADP005711

Entities

People

  • D. Verdin
  • M. J. Duck

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerospace Environments
  • Altitude
  • Electromagnetic Wave Propagation
  • Electron Irradiation
  • Electrons
  • Environment
  • High Altitude
  • Ions
  • Materials
  • Optical Properties
  • Protons
  • Space Environments
  • Spacecraft
  • Spacecraft Charging
  • Wave Propagation

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Thin Film Deposition Science.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Graphene
  • Space