Flexible Autoregulating Thermal Radiator Coating

Thermal management is an enduring need for a wide range of military and civilian space platforms. In orbit, satellites are regularly exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations. Depending on whether the satellite is exposed to direct sunlight, planet albedo, or if it is in eclipse, temperatures may range from less than -120°C to over 150°C. Traditionally, heaters have been utilized for maintaining warmth of sensitive electronics. These battery-operated heaters significantly increase the satellite’s weight and power usage. Conversely, radiators and reflectors are used to dissipate waste heat and reject thermal loading, respectively, to prevent satellite overheating. The development of autoregulating thermal radiator coatings will therefore greatly improve the thermal control system by minimizing, if not eliminating, the role of active onboard heaters while maintaining necessary radiative and reflective properties. Accordingly, Plasmonics Inc. proposes to design, model, fabricate, and test a vanadium dioxide (VO2) based variable thermal emission material (VEM) thin film stack on polyimide.