Effect of SiO2 crystal structure on the stability of polymer composites exposed to vacuum ultraviolet radiation

Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation produced by the Sun in the space environment can cause degradation to thermoregulating coatings producing changes in optical, mechanical, and chemical properties. These effects are particularly important for polymers. The purpose of this study was to study the effect of VUV radiation on polymeric composites based on polyalkaneimide. Amorphous and crystalline SiO2 were used as the filler. A comparative characterization of physico-mechanical properties of composites is presented depending on the polymorphic structure of the filler being introduced. According to the microhardness of the surface of composites with amorphous and crystalline SiO2, an optimum filler content of 60-65 wt% is established. The exposure of VUV radiation to polymeric composites with SiO2 leads to a mass loss and a change in their near-surface layers, which leads to a deterioration in the optical properties. At an elevated temperature (125 degrees C), the mass loss of all composites with amorphous crystalline SiO2 does not exceed 1.33%, and with crystalline SiO2, the maximum mass loss is 0.52%. The mass loss of composites with crystalline SiO2 of all compositions did not exceed the allowable value for spacecraft products of 1%. For high-filled (50 wt% filler or more) composites with amorphous SiO2, mass loss after VUV treatment is more than 1%, which does not allow them to be used in outer space. The change in the main optical characteristics of thermoregulating coatings after VUV treatment was studied. The smoothing of the surface of composites after VUV treatment is established.