Radiation Resistance of a Spacecraft Coating Obtained by 3D Printing

The results of studies of changes in the diffuse reflection spectra and integral solar radiation absorption coefficient a s of a thermal control coating (TCC) of the Optical Solar Reflectors (OSR) class for spacecraft (SCs) under electron irradiation are presented. A dielectric ceramic paste (DCP) consisting of a filler, crushed polycor (Al 2 O 3 ) and a solvent with a thickener (terpineol with ethyl cellulose), was applied by a 3D printer onto a substrate. Then, heating at 150°C and annealing at 850°C were carried out; a “white” coating was obtained with a high reflection coefficient and a low absorption coefficient, meeting the requirements and standards of the OSR class TCC. The radiation resistance of the resulting DCP-based coating is comparable to the resistance of a highly stable coating based on ZnO pigment with liquid lithium glass and is much higher than the resistance of a plasma-sprayed coating—MgAl 2 O 4 spinel.