Long-Term Stability of Ion-Beam Treated Space Polymers In Geo-Simulated Environment

It is a real challenge to reproduce various space environment conditions in ground-based facilities for testing of external space system materials and elements. This is due to the variety and complexity of the space environment conditions and their effects on materials and structures. The reliability of test results depends on accurate simulation of the critical factors and effects of the space environment for a particular mission. The main objectives of the simulation testing are to get the test results that are adequate to the material durability and functional behavior in a space environment. As part of a large, multi-year program, a number of ion beam surface treatments and proprietary coatings formed on advanced space polymers by ion beam deposition were developed at ITL Inc, Canada. This technology allowed to impair controlled surface resistivity in a wide range of charge dissipation values, with negligibly low RF losses and other important functional properties, allowing using these materials and products in modern space antennae, solar arrays and other applications in GEO environment. This paper will summarize a unique set of irradiation experiments of space polymers that were ion beam treated and coated with special coatings by ion beam deposition (IBD) for charge dissipation. The irradiation experiments were conducted in three world- recognized GEO simulation facilities, covering a wide range of irradiation conditions. New results will be presented on the radiation stability of those space polymers surfaces after the electron accelerator testing in the MeV energy range