Surface Modification Technologies for Durable Space Polymers

Abstract

AbstractMany polymers, paints, and organic-based materials exposed to the space environment undergo dramatic changes and irreversible degradation of physical and functional characteristics. While many protective approaches, including protective coatings and mechanical metal foil wrapping or cladding—especially for synthesized bulk materials, are used to reduce the effects of the space environment, the protection of such materials in space remains a major challenge, especially for future long-duration exploration missions or permanent space stations. In addition to the traditional approaches, surface modification processes are used increasingly to protect or to impart new properties to materials used in the space environment. This article presents a brief overview of the present situation in the field of surface modification of space materials. A number of surface modification solutions that differ from the traditional protective coating approaches are discussed that change the surface properties of treated materials, thus protecting them from the hazards of low Earth orbit and geostationary orbit environments or imparting new functional properties. Examples of their testing, characterization, and applications are provided.