Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T05:52:40.698Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Synthesis of Indium Oxide Microspheres for Antistatic Spacecraft Coatings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

Donna M. Speckman
Affiliation:
The Aerospace Corporation, P.O. Box 92957, Los Angeles, CA 90009
C. A. Jackson
Affiliation:
The Aerospace Corporation, P.O. Box 92957, Los Angeles, CA 90009
Get access

Abstract

Indium oxide microspheres were synthesized for potential use in novel, polymer-based antistatic coatings for exposed spacecraft surfaces. Non-agglomerating indium oxide microspheres with diameters ranging from 0.5–2.0 μm were produced using an aerosol spray pyrolysis technique. The precursor solution used to generate the aerosol droplets for pyrolysis consisted of indium acetate dissolved in water; however, the actual indium species present in solution was identified as the hydrolysis product, dihydroxy(acetato)indium. Thermogravimetric analyses of commercial indium acetate and of pure crystals of the dihydroxy(acetato)indium compound both demonstrated clean solid-state pyrolyses to generate pure indium oxide, as confirmed by x-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopic analysis. Air was used as the carrier gas for the aerosol droplets for the spray pyrolysis experiments, and pyrolysis took place within a 2′′ tube furnace. The microspheres were characterized by x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The non-agglomerating characteristics of the microspheres, combined with their small size, indicates that these particles are highly promising for dispersion within a polymer matrixes required for novel polymer-based antistatic films.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

[1] Molzen, W., J. Vac. Sci. Technol. 12, 99 (1975).Google Scholar
[2] Verdin, D. and Duck, M., Proceedings of the Third European symposium on Spacecraft Materials in Space Environment 125 (1985).Google Scholar
[3] Gurav, A., Kodas, T., Pluym, T., and Xiong, Y., Aerosol Science and Technology 19, 411 (1993).Google Scholar
[4] Einstein, F.W.B., Gilbert, M.M., and Tuck, D.G., J.C.S. Dalton 248 (1973).Google Scholar