ITO / SiO2 Protected Aluminized Kapton® Film

ITO / SiO2 Aluminized Kapton Film - Satellite MLI

Since 1985 Dunmore Aerospace has been providing material solutions for the space industry. ITO / SiO2 aluminized Kapton® film is constructed of an ITO layer on the out surface and SiO2 directly underneath it, along with an aluminum coating on the opposite side of the polyimide film. By combining silicon dioxide and indium tin oxide you create a thermal control material that offers atomic oxygen (AO) protection and electrostatic charge dissipation on the outer surface. The material is used for moderately low to high temperature applications and has moderate absorptance and emissivity values.

Reasons to Choose ITO / SiO2 Aluminized Polyimide Film

ITO / SiO2 coated aluminized polyimide film is typically chosen to be used as the outer layer of MLI blankets on spacecrafts that experience low solar heat fluxes like shaded surfaces, highly elliptical Earth orbits with long eclipses, and deep space missions. The silicon dioxide coating tailors the material to be resistant to atomic oxygen degradation that is mostly seen around Earth and other planetary bodies.

The addition of the ITO coating offers charge dissipation of the exterior surface with minimal impact on thermal optical properties. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) spacecraft are particularly susceptible to charge build up as solar wind interacting with the Earth’s atmosphere creates charge-bearing plasma. Other planetary bodies with atmospheres have been known to exhibit a similar charge environment.

ITO / SiO2 aluminized Kapton® film is an excellent choice for:

  • LEO missions that experience exposure to atomic oxygen and charge build up
  • Moderately low to high temperature environments
  • Moderate absorptance and emissivity applications

Material Properties

  • Typical outside surface α / ϵ values: 0.60 to 0.63
  • Operating temperature: -185°C to 125°C
  • Thickness range: 25 μm - 127 μm
  • Surface resistivity: ≤ 2,500 Ω/s

ITO / SiO2 Aluminized Polyimide Film Application

Dunmore ITO / Si02 Coated Aluminized Kapton Film - Satellite MLI
Satellite MLI, Credit: NASA/Chris Gunn

DuPont™ and Kapton® are trademarks or registered trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.

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