Physicochemical processes in polymer materials upon exposure at the MIR orbital space station

• Published in: High energy chemistry 2009-09, Vol.43 (5), p.333-340
• Main Author: Milinchuk, V. K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; General Aspects of High Energy Chemistry; Physical Chemistry
• ISSN: 0018-1439; 1608-3148
• DOI: 10.1134/S0018143909050014

An overview of papers on the investigation of physicochemical processes occurring in polymer (polyimide, fluoropolymer, fluoropolyimide, unilaterally aluminized polyimide) films during long-term exposure at the Mir orbital space station is presented in the article dedicated to the centenary of the birthday of Professor S. Ya. Pshezhetskii. Anisotropic nano- and micro-structures oriented in the direction of motion of the station have been detected for the first time with the scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy techniques on surfaces of films exposed to the effects of all factors of open space. The formation of anisotropic structures has been confirmed by the investigation of the light scattering circular diagrams and surface properties of the films. It is supposed that the formation of such structures results from collisions of a flux of oxygen atoms having an energy of ∼5 eV, with the outer surface of the films. It has been found with the use of electronic absorption and infrared spectroscopy that the changes in the surface and optical properties of the films are caused by the occurrence of oxidation processes, degradation of macromolecules, and opening of the imide cycles and aromatic rings of polyimide. Unilaterally aluminized polyimide films are the least resistant to the effects of outer space factors, what can be explained by the photoelectron mechanism of polymer destruction.