Temperature Dependent Radiation Induced Conductivity of Polymeric Spacecraft Materials

Authors

Jodie Corbridge Gillespie, Utah State UniversityFollow
JR Dennison, Utah State UnivesityFollow

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

The 17th Spacecraft Charging Technology Conference, Palais des Papes, Avignon, France, June 17-21, 2024

Publication Date

6-2024

First Page

1

Last Page

6

Abstract

Temperature dependent radiation induced conductivity (RIC) data applicable to conditions experienced by spacecraft are presented for low density polyethylene (LDPE) and poylimide (PI, Kapton^HN, along with summaries for five other common polymeric spacecraft mateials: polyimide (PI; Kapton HN^TM, and Kapton E^TM), polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE; Teflon^TM), expanded PTFE (ePTFE), ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene and (ETFE; Tefzel^TM). Data were measured over approximately 105 K to 330 K and incident dose rates, D, of 10^-4 Gy/s to 10^-1Gy/s. Theoretical expressions proposed by Rose/Fowler/Vissenberg predict equilibrium RIC behavior according to a general expression σ_RIC = k_RIC(T)D^Δ(T), where k_RIC and Δ are material and temperature dependent parameters. Graphs for LDPE and PI are presented: log-log plots of RIC versus dose rate data at various temperatures and empirical fits to the measured temperature dependence of k_RIC(T) and Δ(T). Comparisons are made with other limited studies of temperature-dependent RiC measurements for LDPE and PI, where available. Trends noted for the other polymers are discussed.

Recommended Citation

Corbridge Gillespie, Jodie and Dennison, JR, "Temperature Dependent Radiation Induced Conductivity of Polymeric Spacecraft Materials" (2024). The 17th Spacecraft Charging Technology Conference, Palais des Papes, Avignon, France, June 17-21, 2024. Conference Proceedings. Paper 59.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/mp_conf/59