Title
Development of flexible LEO-resistant PI films for space applications using a self-healing mechanism by surface-directed phase separation of block copolymers
Author
Fischer, H.R.
Tempelaars, K.
Kerpershoek, A.M.
Dingemans, T.
Iqbal, M.
Lonkhuyzen, H.
Iwanowsky, B.
Semprimoschnig, C.
TNO Industrie en Techniek
Publication year
2010
Abstract
Polimide-block-polydimethylsiloxane (PI-b-PDMS) block copolymers have been synthesized from commercially available amino-terminated polysiloxanes with different molecular weights, for use as polymeric materials resistant to the low earth orbit (LEO) space environment. A structural optimization with respect to maximum environmental protection has been performed by varying the PDMS block length as well as the architecture of the block copolymers spanning from multiblock to triblock and star-shaped morphologies. The synthesized polymers and casted films show good mechanical and thermal performance. For block copolymers with a load of 2% PDMS (in the case of the multiblock copolymers), a complete surface coverage of the PDMS has been found. It has been shown that the transfer of the surface enriched PDMS layer into a thin silica layer after atomic oxygen (AO) exposure results in a drastic decrease in AO erosion rate. The silica layer protects the underlying material from oxygen initiated erosion resulting in a drastic decrease of surface roughness. This phenomena is observable for loads as small as 6 wt % PDMS.
Subject
Mechatronics, Mechanics & Materials
MIP - Materials for Integrated Products HOL - Holst MPC - Materials Performance Centre
TS - Technical Sciences
Materials
Industrial Innovation
Poly(dimethylsiloxane) polyamide copolymer
Mechanical stress
Dimethylpolysiloxanes
Humidity
Nylons
Oxygen
Solar Energy
Space Flight
Surface Properties
Temperature
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TNO identifier
409824
ISSN
1944-8244
Source
ACS applied materials & interfaces, 2 (8), 2218-2225
Document type
article