Optical Darkening During Space Environmental Effects Testing - Contaminant Film Analyses

摘要

As a part of a space environmental effects test, two samples used as contamination monitors exhibited slight darkening. Analysis by ellipsometry indicates that l2oA of highly absorptive material had been deposited on them. Static SIMS confirms that a contaminant material was deposited during the test. It further suggests that the contaminant film is composed of polymerized silicones and hydrocarbons. An attempt to use grazing-angle FTIR spectroscopy to identify the film led to inconclusive results.