Aging and Prompt Effects on Space Material Properties

• Published in: IEEE transactions on plasma science Vol. 36; no. 5; pp. 2228 - 2237
• Main Authors: Levy, L., Paulmier, T., Dirassen, B., Inguimbert, C., Van Eesbeek, M.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.10.2008; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Aerospace materials; Aging; Conducting materials; Conductivity; Conductivity measurement; Decay; Dielectric materials; dose effect; Effects; Exact sciences and technology; Expansion; Extraterrestrial measurements; Laboratories; Lists; Material properties; Orbits; Performance evaluation; Physics; Physics of gases, plasmas and electric discharges; Physics of plasmas and electric discharges; Plasma interactions (nonlaser); Plasma-wall interactions; boundary layer effects; Pulse measurements; radiation-induced conductivity (RIC); space materials; Temperature; Aging; radiation-induced conductivity (RIC); space materials; dose effect; Spacecraft charging; Database; Plasma-wall interactions
• ISSN: 0093-3813; 1939-9375
• DOI: 10.1109/TPS.2008.2002914

Because conductivity is not a unique and stable property in space, it implies that we must comprehend as much as possible the different environmental effects that are likely to influence it. Two of these effects, which are radiation (prompt)-induced conductivity (RIC), total dose effects and delayed RIC (DRIC), have been studied at room temperature in the laboratory. In this paper, the surface potential decay method has been used to determine the conductivity of a set of seven materials used in space at two different steps of their expected life in geostationary orbit. Dark conductivity and RIC were determined on pristine samples and also on samples which received a certain level of total dose. The data measured on pristine and aged samples, which have been labeled beginning of life and middle of life, respectively, were incorporated into a material database MATREX into what we called the PIP1 material property list, enlarging the previous NASCAP list.