Resistance of a thermoregulatory coating with silica to electron irradiation

The paper presents data on the creation of polymer coatings based on a polystyrene binder and a silica filler. The resulting coatings were evaluated by using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and spectrophotometry depending on the content of the filler. The resistance of the coatings to electron irradiation with an energy of 50 keV (fluence of 6×1015cm−2) was studied. Electron irradiation of a coating with a silica filler leads to a significant increase in the surface roughness. The polystyrene binder possesses high radiation resistance; there is practically no increase in the integral coefficient of absorption of solar radiation (αs). After electron irradiation of a pure polystyrene sample, the value of αs increases by only 1.2% (Δαs=0.008), and for a coating with 60 wt% of the investigated filler, it increases by 3.9% (Δαs=0.010). •Polystyrene (PS) coatings with silica filler were synthesized.•PS and coatings were exposed to electron irradiation with an energy of 50 keV.•The change in the optical properties after electron irradiation was evaluated.•After irradiation of pure PS, the value of αs increased by 1.2% (Δαs=0.008).•After irradiation of a coating, the value of αs increased by 3.9% (Δαs=0.010).