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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
10:27
The Evolution of Silica Nanoparticle-polyester Coatings on Surfaces Exposed to Sunlight
Published on: October 11, 2016
Evolution of optical coatings in Earth orbit
Optics Letters
|September 25, 2009
Summary
Space exposure increased the density of silicon monoxide (SiO) optical coatings by incorporating atomic oxygen. Silicon dioxide (SiO2) coatings showed some material loss, indicating differing space environmental effects on optical films.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Space Science
- Optical Coatings
Background:
- Optical coatings are crucial for space missions, but their durability in the harsh space environment is a concern.
- Previous studies have not fully characterized the effects of atomic oxygen on SiO and SiO2 coatings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the effects of the space environment on SiO and SiO2 optical coatings.
- To quantify changes in film density and composition.
- To establish new standards for analyzing thin films using ion backscattering.
Main Methods:
- High-resolution medium-energy ion backscattering analyses were employed.
- SiO and SiO2 optical coatings were exposed to the space environment aboard NASA's Long-Duration Experiment Module Flight (LDEF).
Main Results:
- A 1% increase in the areal density of the SiO film was observed, attributed to atomic oxygen incorporation.
- The SiO2 film showed less conclusive data but suggested some surface material loss.
- The study established a new benchmark for profiling film thicknesses via ion backscattering.
Conclusions:
- Atomic oxygen in the space environment significantly impacts SiO optical coatings by increasing their density.
- SiO2 optical coatings may experience material loss in space.
- Ion backscattering is a powerful technique for analyzing space-exposed optical coatings.
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