Datasets/NASA

MISSE 2 PEACE polymers: atomic oxygen erosion

misse2-peace
Low Earth orbit Atomic oxygen Measured in flight CC BY 4.0

Atomic oxygen erosion yields for 40 materials flown 3.95 years outside the International Space Station on NASA's Materials International Space Station Experiment 2 (PEACE Polymers tray). Sorted from most to least resistant. Compared with Kapton H, the reference film: lower is better.

RankMaterialTypeCompared with Kapton HLost in 3.95 years
1 White TedlarCrystalline polyvinylfluoride with white pigment Fluoropolymers 0.034× 8.5 µm
2 PTFEPolytetrafluoroethylene Fluoropolymers 0.047× 12 µm
3 PFAPerfluoroalkoxy copolymer resin Fluoropolymers 0.058× 15 µm
4 AFAmorphous fluoropolymer Fluoropolymers 0.066× 17 µm
5 FEPFluorinated ethylene propylene Fluoropolymers 0.067× 17 µm
6 PGPyrolytic graphite Graphite 0.14× 35 µm
7 KevlarPoly-(p-phenylene terephthalamide) Aramids 0.21× 53 µm
8 Kel-FChlorotrifluoroethylene Fluoropolymers 0.28× 70 µm
9 TefzelTetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer Fluoropolymers 0.32× 81 µm
10 ABSAcrylonitrile butadiene styrene Styrenics 0.36× 92 µm
11 KynarPolyvinylidene fluoride Fluoropolymers 0.43× 109 µm
12 ZylonPoly(p-phenylene-2 6-benzobisoxazole) High-performance 0.45× 115 µm
13 PANPolyacrylonitrile Acrylics 0.47× 119 µm
14 NomexPolyphenylene isophthalate Aramids 0.47× 119 µm
15 PUPolyurethane Polyurethanes 0.52× 132 µm
16 HalarEthylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene Fluoropolymers 0.60× 151 µm
17 PA 66Polyamide 66 (nylon 66) Polyamides 0.60× 152 µm
18 CP1Polyimide Polyimides 0.64× 161 µm
19 PEOPolyethylene oxide Polyethers 0.64× 163 µm
20 PBIPolybenzimidazole High-performance >0.74× >186 µm
21 PPPolypropylene Polyolefins 0.89× 226 µm
22 Kapton HNPolyimide (PMDA) Polyimides 0.94× 237 µm
23 PSUPolysulphone High-performance 0.98× 248 µm
24 PEEKPolyetheretherketone High-performance 1.00× 252 µm
25 Kapton HPolyimide (PMDA) Polyimides 1.00× 253 µm
26 MylarPolyethylene terephthalate Polyesters 1.00× 254 µm
27 PMR-15High temperature polyimide resin Polyimides >1.01× >255 µm
28 Clear TedlarPolyvinyl fluoride Fluoropolymers 1.06× 269 µm
29 PEIPolyetherimide High-performance >1.10× >279 µm
30 PA 6Polyamide 6 (nylon 6) Polyamides 1.17× 296 µm
31 PEPolyethylene Polyolefins >1.25× >315 µm
32 PSPolystyrene Styrenics 1.25× 315 µm
33 EPEpoxide or epoxy Epoxies and resins 1.40× 355 µm
34 PCPolycarbonate Polycarbonates 1.43× 362 µm
35 CACellulose acetate Cellulosics 1.68× 426 µm
36 PMMAPolymethyl methacrylate Acrylics >1.87× >472 µm
37 CR-39Allyl diglycol carbonate Polycarbonates >2.27× >573 µm
38 PBTPolybutylene terephthalate Polyesters 3.04× 768 µm
39 DelrinPolyoxymethylene (acetal) Acetals 3.05× 771 µm
40 Upilex-SPolyimide (BPDA) Polyimides 3.07× 777 µm

">" means the sample eroded through before the flight ended, so the true value is higher. Thickness lost = erosion yield × 8.43×10²¹ atoms/cm².