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A study of a simulated low Earth environment on the degradation of FEP polymer
Author(s) -
Rasoul Firas A.,
Hill David J. T.,
George Graeme A.,
O'Donnell James H.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1581(199801)9:1<24::aid-pat730>3.0.co;2-5
Subject(s) - materials science , polymer , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , copolymer , degradation (telecommunications) , oxygen , thermal stability , ethylene , atomic oxygen , chemical engineering , low earth orbit , carbon fibers , polymer chemistry , composite material , catalysis , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering , telecommunications , satellite , computer science , composite number , aerospace engineering
Spacecraft flying in a low Earth orbit environment require thermal blankets to provide protection from direct solar heat from the sun. Fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer is one of the major components of these thermal blankets. In this study, the effect of a simulated low Earth orbit environment on FEP was investigated. UV and VUV degradation of fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) copolymer was studied using ESR and XPS. The ESR study revealed the formation of a terminal polymer chain radical. The stability of this radical has been investigated under different environments. An XPS study of FEP film exposed to VUV and atomic oxygen showed that oxidation takes place on the polymer surface. The study revealed also that the percentage of CF 2 in the polymer surface decreased with exposure time and the percentage of CF, CF 3 and carbon attached to oxygen increased. SEM micrographs of FEP film exposed to VUV and atomic oxygen produced a rough surface with regular undulations similar to sand dunes. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.