Atomic Oxygen Effects of Polyimide/Silica Hybrid Films in Low Earth Orbit Environment

To improve AO resistance of polyimide, a type of polyimide/silica (PI/SiO2) hybrid film was prepared by the sol-gel process. The coupling agent p-aminophenyltrimeth- oxysilane (APTMOS) was chosen to enhance the compatibility between the polyimide (PI) and silica (SiO2). AO resistance of the PI/SiO2 hybrid films were tested in the ground-based simulation AO facility. The erosion yield of the films was 4.7×10-26 cm3/atom, decreased by two orders of magnitude compared with the value of 3.0×10-24 cm3/atom of the polyimide film. Results from FTIR, XPS, AFM on AO treated polyimide/silica hybrid films indicate the formation of a passivating inorganic SiO2 layer. The layer significantly retards the penetration of oxygen atoms, preventing further degradation of the polymer in the bulk. The addition of SiO2 in polyimide does not significantly alter the optical properties of polyimide during AO exposure.