Atomic oxygen durability of uncoated and coated high-frequency circuit materials

Citation
I. Gouzman et al., Atomic oxygen durability of uncoated and coated high-frequency circuit materials, HIGH PERF P, 13(3), 2001, pp. S505-S516
Citations number
8
Categorie Soggetti
Organic Chemistry/Polymer Science
Journal title
HIGH PERFORMANCE POLYMERS
ISSN journal
09540083 → ACNP
Volume
13
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Pages
S505 - S516
Database
ISI
SICI code
0954-0083(200109)13:3<S505:AODOUA>2.0.ZU;2-W
Abstract
Different materials were considered for high-frequency circuit applications requiring exposure to low Earth orbit (LEO) space environment. The potenti al candidates were TMM3 which is a ceramic thermoset polymer composite, and RO4003 which is a glass reinforced hydrocarbon/ceramic laminate, both manu factured by Rogers Corporation (USA). Various constituents of the space env ironment can affect these materials' properties. Atomic oxygen is considere d the most hazardous component since it may cause degradation of these mate rials by etching and/or changing the chemical composition. The candidate ma terials were tested by exposure to different equivalent atomic oxygen (ATOX ) fluences of up to 1.9 X 10(21) atoms cm(-2). The effects of the atomic ox ygen exposures were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and mass loss measurements. Both materials were degraded under ATOX exposur e, resulting in intensive mass loss as well as changes in surface morpholog y and chemistry. In order to protect these materials in the LEO environment several protective coatings were evaluated for TMM3. The protective coatin gs tested were SiO2, CV1 144-0 (a clear silicone coating) and SG120FD (a wh ite silicone paint). SG120FD was found to provide the best protection again st ATOX irradiation attack, while CV 1144-0 provided a sufficient, though s omewhat inferior protection.