Study of mass loss of EKOM-1 thermal control coating under electron and proton radiations

Experimental data on mass loss of EKOM-1 polymeric composite subjecting to 40-keV electrons and protons in vacuum are discussed and interpreted. It was shown, in particular, that mass loss of the polymeric composite irradiated by protons is greater than by electrons if energies and flux densities of the particles are the same. To analyze numerically the data obtained, a mathematical model describing mass loss of the material in vacuum and accounting for the growth of its permeability is proposed.