The atomic layer deposition (ALD) process from Picosun, Finland, has been demonstrated to be a suitable solution for protection of surfaces exposed to atomic oxygen degradation in low-Earth orbit. High material survivability is a requirement for objects sent to space as they are faced with a number of degrading circumstances, such as exposure to atomic oxygen.
Researchers at the European Space Agency (ESA) have tested and analyzed various material samples provided by Picosun to verify the protective coatings’ suitability for protection against atomic oxygen. The test simulates the corroding effect of atomic oxygen, for which satellites, including the International Space Station, are exposed to.
Results of the tests performed on Kapton HN polyimide film, silicon pieces, and printed circuit boards protected with Picosun ALD coating clearly demonstrated the erosion protection provided by the ALD coating.
The demonstrated low temperature (125 °C) film was relatively thin (20 nm) enabling coating of different relevant materials. Decreased thickness of ALD coating is known to withstand more deformation required for flexible materials than thick layers. Also, ALD coating can be applied to a 3D surface with extreme aspect ratios. The analysis consisted of mass measurement, scanning electron microscope inspection, and thermo-optical properties measurement, partially, before, and after the test.
“Atomic oxygen erosion has a major impact on the choice of external materials available for spacecrafts and satellites operating in low-Earth orbit. Picosun ALD showed atomic oxygen resistance in the tests and forms a suitable protective coating for extreme environmental conditions, applicable also for flexible materials”, explains Adrian Tighe, senior materials engineer in the Materials’ Physics and Chemistry Section at ESA.
“ALD is an advanced thin film coating method for ultra-thin, highly uniform and conformal material layers. It has proved to be the coating solution of choice already in production in solutions and innovations operating in extreme environments. Today, they can be found everywhere from deep seabed to Mars”, says Juhana Kostamo, VP of the industrial business area of Picosun Group.
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