Abstract
In-situ erosion rate measurement, residual gas analysis and surface characterization of polyimide films exposed to an energetic atomic oxygen beam were studied. The polyimide films were formed on quartz crystals in order to measure the mass loss rate with a quartz crystal microbalance during atomic oxygen beam exposure. The simultaneous exposure of a 5 eV atomic oxygen beam and ultraviolet light provided a good correlation with the flight data regarding the reaction efficiency of Kapton-H. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that the PMDA structure in the polyimide was mainly degradated due to the atomic oxygen exposure. The enhancement of carbon dioxide formation during the simultaneous ultraviolet irradiation was clearly observed. This synergetic effect can be explained by the photochemical reaction of the carbonyl group under the presence of atomic oxygen.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 40-45 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Transactions of the Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences |
| Volume | 42 |
| Issue number | 135 |
| Publication status | Published - May 1 1999 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Aerospace Engineering
- Space and Planetary Science