Embrittlement of MISSE 5 Polymers After 13 Months of Space Exposure

摘要: Understanding space environment induced degradation of spacecraft materials is essential when designing durable and stable components. As a result radiation, debris impacts, atomic oxygen interaction, thermal cycling, the outer surfaces degrade exposed to low Earth orbit (LEO). The objective this study was measure embrittlement 37 thin film polymers after LEO exposure. were flown aboard International Space Station as part Materials Experiment 5 (MISSE 5). samples in nadir-facing position for 13 months cycling along with doses oxygen, direct solar radiation omni-directional charged particle radiation. analyzed space-induced using bend-test procedure which strain necessary induce surface cracking determined. Bend-testing conducted successively smaller mandrels apply placed on semi-suspended pliable platform. A pristine sample also tested each flight sample. Eighteen experienced some degree during bend-testing, while none any cracking. results indicate that 49% MISSE became embrittled even though they (~2.75 krad (Si) dose through 127 μm Kapton) ionizing