Review of Radiation-Induced Effects in Polyimide

Polyimide (PI, Kapton-H®) films are widely utilized in the spacecraft industry for their insulating properties, mechanical durability, light weight, and chemical resistance to radiation. Still PI materials remain exposed to a combination of high-energy electrons, protons, and ultraviolet (UV) photons, particles primarily responsible for radiation-induced damage in geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO), which drastically change PI’s properties. This work reviews the effect of electron, proton, and UV photon irradiation on the material properties (morphology, absorption, mechanical properties, and charge transport) of PI. The different damaging mechanisms and chemical consequences that drive changes in the material properties of PI caused by each individual kind of irradiation will be discussed in detail.