Accurate prediction of erosion effects in sensitive spacecraft materials in LEO due to atomic oxygen exposure can significantly aid designers in suitable selection of materials. A recently developed predictive model, and a number of useful correlations, introduced to explain the results of hydrocarbon polymer's erosion in LEO, have been extended to include fluorinated polymers. The "screening" effects associated with fluorine atoms in polymer structures have been proposed to play the main role in the resistance of these materials to atomic oxygen erosion in space. These results, combined with two other established predictive correlations have been used to introduce the concept of a software program for prediction of atomic oxygen erosion resistance of various organic materials in LEO. Using the proposed concept, estimates and predictions of erosion behaviour can be maid for untested and new materials.
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