Radiation-resistant Ti/BN coatings: insights from 171 days exposure to space radiation and atomic oxygen in low orbit
Abstract Atmospheric Plasma Spray (APS) and Vacuum Plasma Spray (VPS) techniques were used to develop Ti/2 vol.% hBN coatings, for extreme space environments and tested aboard the International Space Station as part of the MISSE-17 (Materials International Space Station Experiments) program. The coa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | npj Materials Degradation |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41529-025-00644-0 |
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| author | Abhijith Kunneparambil Sukumaran Sara Rengifo William Scott Annette Gray Miria Finckenor Rony Thomas Murickan Justin McElderry Matthew Mazurkivich Michael Renfro Sang-Hyon Chu Cheol Park Anna Wu Yifei Fu Sudipta Seal Arvind Agarwal |
| author_facet | Abhijith Kunneparambil Sukumaran Sara Rengifo William Scott Annette Gray Miria Finckenor Rony Thomas Murickan Justin McElderry Matthew Mazurkivich Michael Renfro Sang-Hyon Chu Cheol Park Anna Wu Yifei Fu Sudipta Seal Arvind Agarwal |
| author_sort | Abhijith Kunneparambil Sukumaran |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Atmospheric Plasma Spray (APS) and Vacuum Plasma Spray (VPS) techniques were used to develop Ti/2 vol.% hBN coatings, for extreme space environments and tested aboard the International Space Station as part of the MISSE-17 (Materials International Space Station Experiments) program. The coatings were exposed to atomic oxygen, space radiation, and low-orbit thermal cycling. VPS coatings showed a 56% increase in microhardness, a 26% rise in elastic modulus, minimal porosity and crack density changes compared to APS coatings. The change in mechanical properties is attributed to the formation of TiO, TiO₂ and TiN from nitrogen retention, alongside radiation-induced dislocations, which enhanced surface hardening. The oxidation of titanium led to the formation of TiO and TiO₂, while boron nitride was retained and underwent transmutation in VPS coatings. XPS and EDS analyses confirmed the enhanced space-environment resistance of VPS coatings, making them ideal for long-term spacecraft protection in lunar and Martian conditions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fa6bb056c53145bcbb0294bed06828ac |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2397-2106 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Materials Degradation |
| spelling | doaj-art-fa6bb056c53145bcbb0294bed06828ac2025-08-20T04:02:55ZengNature Portfolionpj Materials Degradation2397-21062025-07-019111610.1038/s41529-025-00644-0Radiation-resistant Ti/BN coatings: insights from 171 days exposure to space radiation and atomic oxygen in low orbitAbhijith Kunneparambil Sukumaran0Sara Rengifo1William Scott2Annette Gray3Miria Finckenor4Rony Thomas Murickan5Justin McElderry6Matthew Mazurkivich7Michael Renfro8Sang-Hyon Chu9Cheol Park10Anna Wu11Yifei Fu12Sudipta Seal13Arvind Agarwal14Plasma Forming Laboratory, Florida International UniversityMaterials Test, Chemistry and Contamination Control Branch, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Marshall Space Flight CentreMaterials Test, Chemistry and Contamination Control Branch, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Marshall Space Flight CentreMaterials Test, Chemistry and Contamination Control Branch, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Marshall Space Flight CentreMaterials Test, Chemistry and Contamination Control Branch, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Marshall Space Flight CentrePlasma Forming Laboratory, Florida International UniversityMaterials Test, Chemistry and Contamination Control Branch, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Marshall Space Flight CentreMaterials Test, Chemistry and Contamination Control Branch, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Marshall Space Flight CentrePlasma Processes, LLCAdvanced Materials and Processing Branch, NASA Langley Research CenterAdvanced Materials and Processing Branch, NASA Langley Research CenterAdvanced Materials and Processing Branch, NASA Langley Research CenterAdvanced Materials Processing and Analysis Centre, Nanoscience Technology Center, University of Central FloridaAdvanced Materials Processing and Analysis Centre, Nanoscience Technology Center, University of Central FloridaPlasma Forming Laboratory, Florida International UniversityAbstract Atmospheric Plasma Spray (APS) and Vacuum Plasma Spray (VPS) techniques were used to develop Ti/2 vol.% hBN coatings, for extreme space environments and tested aboard the International Space Station as part of the MISSE-17 (Materials International Space Station Experiments) program. The coatings were exposed to atomic oxygen, space radiation, and low-orbit thermal cycling. VPS coatings showed a 56% increase in microhardness, a 26% rise in elastic modulus, minimal porosity and crack density changes compared to APS coatings. The change in mechanical properties is attributed to the formation of TiO, TiO₂ and TiN from nitrogen retention, alongside radiation-induced dislocations, which enhanced surface hardening. The oxidation of titanium led to the formation of TiO and TiO₂, while boron nitride was retained and underwent transmutation in VPS coatings. XPS and EDS analyses confirmed the enhanced space-environment resistance of VPS coatings, making them ideal for long-term spacecraft protection in lunar and Martian conditions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41529-025-00644-0 |
| spellingShingle | Abhijith Kunneparambil Sukumaran Sara Rengifo William Scott Annette Gray Miria Finckenor Rony Thomas Murickan Justin McElderry Matthew Mazurkivich Michael Renfro Sang-Hyon Chu Cheol Park Anna Wu Yifei Fu Sudipta Seal Arvind Agarwal Radiation-resistant Ti/BN coatings: insights from 171 days exposure to space radiation and atomic oxygen in low orbit npj Materials Degradation |
| title | Radiation-resistant Ti/BN coatings: insights from 171 days exposure to space radiation and atomic oxygen in low orbit |
| title_full | Radiation-resistant Ti/BN coatings: insights from 171 days exposure to space radiation and atomic oxygen in low orbit |
| title_fullStr | Radiation-resistant Ti/BN coatings: insights from 171 days exposure to space radiation and atomic oxygen in low orbit |
| title_full_unstemmed | Radiation-resistant Ti/BN coatings: insights from 171 days exposure to space radiation and atomic oxygen in low orbit |
| title_short | Radiation-resistant Ti/BN coatings: insights from 171 days exposure to space radiation and atomic oxygen in low orbit |
| title_sort | radiation resistant ti bn coatings insights from 171 days exposure to space radiation and atomic oxygen in low orbit |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41529-025-00644-0 |
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