ABSTRACT
Abstract Real-time measurement of the erosion rate of a commercially available Si-containing polyimide (BSF30#1) on hyperthermal atomic oxygen (AO) beam exposure, which simulates the AO environment in low Earth orbit (LEO), was performed. It was found that the erosion rate of BSF30#1 decreased with increasing AO fluence and it reached as low as 4% of the conventional PMDA-ODA polyimide. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis confirmed that the surface of AO-exposed BSF30#1 was covered by SiO2 layer which functioned as a protective coating. The self-healing capability of this material is desirable for a spaceapplicable polyimide.
