Silylation of polymers for space and terrestrial application. Process optimization and environmental evaluation

Polymers and polymer-based composite materials are extensively used in spacecraft applications due to both their weight and performances. Without protection from the deleterious effects of space environment these materials suffer erosion from physical-chemical interaction with UV and atomic oxygen and experience a loss of performance.;A new method of surface modification of inactive polymer-based materials, based on a "silylation process", has been developed by ITL and UTIAS. The new technology allows one to create polymers with high erosion stability under FAO.;Within this study, two developments are presented.;First attempt for environmental evaluation, concerns, pollution prevention, and human toxicity, of the existing technology has been addressed.;The second development relates to a potential new system of activation/stabilization proved to achieved similar performances with the existing technique. It may also offer more economical alternative to the UTIAS/ITL technology.