Quartz Crystal Microbalance measurements of erosion rates

The development and validation of an experimental flight package has been accomplished. The study focused upon designing a Quartz Crystal Microbalance system capable of accurately measuring the erosion rates of various materials and coatings. A great deal of research was completed on the effects of the radiation and temperature environment of Low Earth Orbit on semiconductors. The design has been tested with carbon coated crystals in the Atomic Oxygen facility here at UTIAS. The erosion rates predicted by the Quartz Crystal Microbalance agreed with those calculated by other researchers. The system was also tested in an oven facility to verify its ability to function in the extreme temperature gradient of the earth's orbital environment.; An experimental flight package has been developed and tested which will be able to accurately measure the erosion rates of materials and coatings in Low Earth Orbit using Quartz Crystal Microbalances.