US 7,252,890 B1Granted

Anti-contamination coated multi-layer insulation

AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation

InventorHamilton Wong

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Abstract

A multi-layer insulation (MLI) blanket with enhanced contamination inhibiting properties and a method for inhibiting the formation of organic residues on the outer surface of a MLI blanket are provided. In one embodiment, a MLI blanket (10) attachable to a spacecraft or other structure includes a plurality of metallized layers (20, 30, 40, 50) separated by mesh layers (60, 62, 64). An anti-contamination coating (80) comprised of a photocatalytic material is disposed between a high emittance layer (70) that overlies the outer surface (20A) of the outer metallized layer (20) and an outer electrically conductive layer (90). When exposed to ultraviolet or near-ultraviolet radiation components present in solar radiation, the anti-contamination coating (80) catalyzes the breakdown of organic residues on the outer surface of the MLI blanket (10) thereby maintaining the reflective properties of the MLI blanket (10) and ensuring that solar absorptance of the MLI blanket (10) is maintained at or below an acceptable threshold level.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A multi-layer insulation blanket providing thermal protection to a spacecraft portion comprising:

a portion of the spacecraft on which thermal protection is desirable;
and
a multi-layer insulation blanket attachable on the portion of the spacecraft to provide thermal protection to the portion of the spacecraft, said multi-layer insulation blanket including:
an outer sheet of thermally insulative plastic material, said outer sheet having a reflective surface on a side of said outer sheet of thermally insulative plastic material facing space when said multi-layer insulation blanket is attached to the spacecraft;
at least one inner sheet of thermally insulative plastic material between said outer sheet of thermally insulative plastic material and the spacecraft when said multi-layer insulation blanket is attached to the spacecraft;
a coating of anti-contaminant material overlying said reflective surface of said outer sheet of thermally insulative plastic material, said coating of anti-contaminant material being effective to induce the breakdown of organic residues on said outer surface of said outer sheet of thermally insulative plastic material in the presence of solar radiation, said coating of anti-contaminant material having a thickness no greater than 200 nanometers;
and
an outermost electrically conductive layer overlying said coating of anti-contaminant material.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.