A study of the reaction characteristics and mechanism of Kapton in a plasma-type ground-based atomic oxygen effects simulation facility

Kapton, a commonly used spacecraft material, is studied to investigate the atomic oxygen (AO) erosion effects in a plasma-type ground-based AO effects simulation facility. The samples before and after the experiments are comp ared in aspect, mass and surface morphology. The reaction characteristics o f the material in the facility are obtained. The contribution of AO and ion ic oxygen to mass loss in the sample and the reaction mechanism between the different particles and samples are analysed. It is concluded that neutral AO is the major cause of material erosion and mass loss and that the colli sion of energetic ions may accelerate the oxidation reaction.