MATERIALS AND METHOD OF CHARGE DISSIPATION IN SPACE VEHICLES

摘要

The present invention provides a method and materials for reducing or limiting charge accumulation and the resulting arc discharges in components used in space vehicles such as satellites prone to charge buildup due to exposure to a charge flux. The material is found in the poly(metallocene) family. In each member of this family, a metal atom is an integral part of the polymer chain, the whole structure being held together (and the interactions provided) by chemical bonds rather than by the proximity of the components in a heterogeneous mechanical mixture. In a homogeneous dielectric, the needed conductivity may be radiation-induced or it may be achieved as the result of doping. The components may be coated with, or alternatively fabricated from, a material including the poly(metallocene) as a constituent.