Accelerated testing of thermal control coatings using synchrotron radiation and evaluation of materials performance

Abstract

Accelerated testing of white thermal control coatings was performed using the high intensity UV radiation generated by a synchrotron and resulting in a substantial shortening of test times. The origin of coloration of metal oxides upon UV irradiation has been identified to be most likely a generation of oxygen vacancies connected with the appearance of colour centers in the crystal lattice.