Organic polymer materials in the space environment

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Abstract

The space environment is a complex environment full of microgravity, high vacuum, high and low temperature, strong radiation and plasma. Polymers used in the space environment will inevitably experience aging and degradation which result in changes of the material mechanics, physics and chemical properties, until they lose usefulness. To make a material that can be used for a long time and whose performance is not changed in the space environment, its ability to resist environmental factors must be excellent. Therefore, this paper provides an introduction to the harmful conditions in the space environment and their effects on the polymers, also it reviews the aging mechanisms of the adhesives used in the space environment and the effect of thermal cycling, stress, electromagnetic radiation and ionizing particles on the properties of polymers and optical devices, to provide the reference basis for selection, modification and reliability analysis of materials used in the space environment.

Introduction

Due to their high toughness, high elasticity, good insulation, low density, high or low melting point, easy molding processing, molding, etc, polymeric materials have been widely used in the aerospace technology [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]. For example, Wright [6] reviewed the aerospace applications of polymers , including adhesives, coatings, all kinds of fibers, and composite and nanocomposite materials. These polymer materials are used as lubricants, insulating paint, temperature control cladding materials, PCB (Printed Circuit Board), optical fiber materials for optoelectronic devices and high strength composite materials in spacecraft.

The space environment is very demanding on materials as they need to maintain performance under the impact of thermal cycling, high vacuum, space radiation, atomic oxygen, tiny meteoroids and space debris [7], [8], [9], [10], [11]. Outgassing has always been a concern for organic materials under vacuum and thermal cycle as it will cause changes in material composition, dimensions, and ultimately performance of materials [12]. The outgassing products condense on the surface of sensitive components, causing pollution and corrosion, performance reduction of sensitive devices, and even material failure [13], [14], [15], [16]. Since polymeric materials are widely used in aerospace electronics bonding and encapsulation, their structural change will directly affect the performance and reliability of the sensitive components and parts, and may endanger the human lives in the spacecraft [17], [18], [19]. For example, Cynthia L. Lach et al [18] analyzed the effect of temperature and gap opening rates on the resiliency of candidate solid rocket booster O-ring materials. The deformation failure of the rubber O rings on the "Challenger" solid rocket caused its explosion. Therefore, a good understanding of the typical aging mechanisms of polymer materials during space flight conditions and the influence of the materials’ structural and optoelectronic properties is critical to the selection, modification and reliability analysis of polymer material to be used during space flight. Flight experiments are critical to understanding the engineering performance of materials exposed to specific space environments. Likewise, the spacecraft designer must have an understanding of the specific environment in which a spacecraft will operate, enabling appropriate selection of materials to maximize engineering performance, increase mission lifetimes, and reduce risk. David et al [20] presented a methodology for assessing the engineering performance of materials baselined for a specific spacecraft or mission, and provided an overview on the effects of the space environment on materials performance. Miller and coworkers [21] briefly discussed and gave examples of some of the degradation experienced on spacecraft. They also discussed the use of ground and space data to predict durability. NASA [22] and ESA [23] developed specifications for the selection of polymer materials for space use. Fayazbakhsh [24] presented a method of materials selection for applications in the space environment considering the outgassing phenomenon. These studies have important implications for the research on aerospace materials, as well as the selection and performance evaluation of aerospace materials.

On this basis, this paper provides an introduction to the harmful conditions in the space environment and its effect on the polymers. It also provides a review of the aging mechanisms of the adhesives used in the space environment and of the effect of thermal cycling, stress, electromagnetic radiation and ionizing particles on the properties of polymers and optical devices.

Section snippets

The space environment and its effect on organic materials

The space environment [25] includes both the natural space environment caused by natural factors and the artificial space environment caused by human factors. The near-earth space environment is the most active area for current spacecraft. It exposes the spacecraft to a high vacuum, high and low temperatures, ultraviolet radiation, atomic oxygen corrosion, proton and electron irradiation, space plasma radiation, micro meteors, space debris, etc. The environment therefore will affect the

Effects of space environment on polymeric materials

Polymer materials used in spacecraft include adhesives, packaging materials, reinforced plastics and thermosetting resins, rubber and thermoplastic plastics, adhesive tape, coatings and paint, glass, lubricants, and other auxiliary materials [49], [50].

High-temperature aging

Adhesives undergo two main changes once heated: physical change, for example, where thermoplastic resin with linear structure may melt or deform under external force; and chemical change, mainly characterized by thermal decomposition, where oxidative cracking or oxygen contamination may occur.

After curing at high temperature, the thermal aging of organic polymer binding mainly includes oxidative decomposition of organic side chain groups, main chain rupture, and crosslinking [58], [59].

Space physical field on polymer, optical device properties

The environmental physical field is one of the most important factors that induces spacecraft fault (Fig. 28) [81]. The influence of physical fields on aerospace optoelectronic devices are influenced by the material medium used to construct the devices. Determining characteristic changes in materials under various physical fields includes first determining effect mechanisms, facilitating effective approaches to improving the accuracy, reliability, and long-term and stable performance of

Conclusions and outlook

The selection of polymers used in the space environment is very difficult and involves many complex factors. Materials must not only withstand small gravity field effects (10−6–10−9 m/s2), high vacuum (10−5 pa), strong radiation, cosmic rays, free reactive oxygen species, all-weather sunlight, high solar energy (1.4 kw m−2), and charged particles such as radiation as the spacecraft orbits, but further must withstand extreme variations in temperature. Polymer materials used in spacecraft can produce

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Talent Fund of Jiangxi University of Science and Technology (3402228077).

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    Found Program: Talent Found of Jiangxi University of Science and Technology (3402228077).

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