Atomic oxygen exposure behaviors of CVD-grown carbon nanotube film and its polymer composite film

Materials used in low earth orbit are exposed to damaging atomic oxygen (AO). AO exposure behaviors of carbon nanotube (CNT) film and CNT/epoxy composite film were evaluated when exposed to a nominal AO fluence of about 3.0 × 1020 atoms/cm2. Properties of the films before and after AO exposure were evaluated by mass loss, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, tensile and electrical conductivity tests. Results show similar mass loss and different surface erosion for two kinds of films. CNT bundles collapse with the emergence of a tight arrangement of particles, and porous CNT film has more serious interior CNT erosion than dense CNT/epoxy composite film. Decreases of tensile strength and electrical conductivities are seen.