In-orbit contamination traps based on sol-gel coatings

01.08.2007 - 31.03.2011
Assigned research project
The control of molecular contamination for spacecrafts is currently only pursued on ground. This is sufficient when the contamination levels at launch can be held significantly below EOL requirements. With increasingly sensitive optical payloads, even on-ground requirements become difficult to maintain, leaving very little margin in orbit for nominal performance. Active control of contamination in orbit has already been demonstrated (e.g. Hubble Space Telescope) where zeolite-based cartridges have been placed near critical hardware. The drawback of this solution is still a relatively small volume/surface ratio; the application of such a concept as coating would be most efficient. European developments are currently pending, with a variety of missions to come where active contamination control would be desirable. The goal of the project is to show the feasibility of a molecular contamination trap, applied as coating, to protect optically sensitive or contamination critical payloads. The coatings will be prepared by sol-gel processes which additionally allow concomitant tailoring of several properties (porosity, optical performance, etc.). A multifunctional protection system will thus be created.

People

Project leader

Project personnel

Institute

Contract/collaboration

  • FFG - Österr. Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft mbH
  • ESA / ESTEC

Research focus

  • Non-metallic Materials: 50%
  • Surfaces and Interfaces: 50%

Keywords

GermanEnglish
Beschichtungencoatings
Sol-Gel Prozeßsol-gel processing
Adsorptionadsorption
Hybridmaterialienhybrid materials

Publications