Project Title:
Space Stable Electrically Conductive Thermal Control Coatings
AZ Technology, Inc.
3322 Memorial Parkway SW, Suite 93
Huntsville, AL 35801
93-1-09 08 7481
Space Stable Electrically Conductive Thermal Control Coatings
Abstract:
We propose to develop an innovative class of electrically
conductive thermal control coatings (both white and black). This
will be accomplished through the use of current state-of-the-art
organo-metallic, sol-gel techniques and the use of
state-of-the-art solid state physics, chemical sciences and
computer modeling techniques. The proposed effort will explore
the feasibility to produce coatings that will have electrical
resistivities several orders of magnitude below those typically
in current use. The ultimate objective of this program is to
develop electrically conductive coatings that will have stable
electrical properties while maintaining the desired solar
absorptance and high thermal emittance over long periods of
exposure to the hostile space environment. The effort proposed
encompasses the use of state-of-the-art science and technology to
determine the feasibility of producing highly electrically
conductive pigments and coatings in laboratory quantities and to
evaluate the feasibility of designing the most effective coatings
through the use of computer modeling techniques. The anticipated
results are a number of electrically effective, space stable
coatings that can be confidently used by NASA and the aerospace
industry in general to provide protection to spacecraft from
electrical charge build-up and solar heating problems in a single
coating system.
The successful development of the proposed coatings will have a
major positive impact on U.S. commercial space industry by
improving the performance characteristics, lowering system weight
and increasing the longevity of satellite systems. There is
commercial application potential in the communications satellite,
remote sensing, radar and similar industries.
Thermal control, white, electrically conductive spacecraft
coating