Perforated Double Aluminized Kapton® Film
Since 1985 Dunmore Aerospace has been providing material solutions for the space industry. Our perforated double aluminized Kapton® film consists of a polyimide film with vacuum deposited aluminum applied to either side to achieve low infrared emissivity values on both sides. The material is primarily used in the inner layers of an MLI blanket for high temperature spacecraft applications. The addition of perforated holes allows gases to pass through the film while achieving similar optical properties as unperforated aluminized Kapton® film. By perforating these layers, MLI blankets can vent trapped air during the rapid depressurization of the ascent stage, allowing them to retain their form and avoid damage from swelling.
Reason to Choose Perforated Double Aluminized Kapton® Film
Perforated double aluminized Kapton® film shares many of the same applications as unperforated double aluminized Kapton® film. This includes the inner layers of multi-layer insulation (MLI) blankets. It is the preferred material in applications where gas needs to pass across layers of film.
Perforated double aluminized Kapton® films are often used in MLI blankets that cover large, pressurized volumes like on satellites being launched into orbit. During launch ascent, external pressures drop rapidly which requires large venting areas. The performance of the MLI film can be preserved despite the perforations by staggering the location of the holes from layer to layer so that radiant view factors between layers is limited.
Perforated double aluminized Kapton® film is an excellent choice for:
- Inner layers of an MLI blanket for low to high temperature applications
- Improvement of MLI blanket airflow during ascent
- Low absorptance and emissivity applications
Material Properties
- Typical α / ϵ value: 3.5
- Operating temperature: -250°C to 290°C
- Thickness Range: 7.6 μm - 50.8 μm
- Surface resistivity: ≤ 1.0 Ω/sq
Perforated Double Aluminized Polyimide Film Application
Satellite MLI
DuPont™ and Kapton® are trademarks or registered trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.