Title

Testing multiwall carbon nanotubes on ion erosion for advanced space propulsion

Authors

Yoke Khin Yap, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
Jitendra Menda, Michigan Technological University
Lakshman Kumar Vanga, Michigan Technological University
Vijaya Kayastha, Michigan Technological University
Jiesheng Wang, Michigan Technological University
Lyon B. King, Michigan Technological University
Svetlana Dimovski, Drexel University
Yury Gogotsi, Drexel University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2004

Abstract

Are carbon nanotubes more resistant than diamonds against ion erosion? Here, we report an evaluation of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) as the protective coating against plasma erosion in advanced space propulsion systems. We have compared polycrystalline diamond films with MWNTs, amorphous carbon (a-C) and boron nitride (BN) films. Two types of MWNTs were investigated including vertically aligned (VA) MWNTs, and those horizontally laid on the substrate surfaces. Only diamond films and VA-MWNTs survived erosion by 250 eV krypton ions of a flight-quality Hall-effect thruster. VA-MWNTs are found to bundle at their tips after ion erosion.

Publisher's Statement

© Materials Research Society 2004. Publisher's version of record: https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-821-P3.7

Publication Title

Symposium P – Nanoscale Materials & Modeling-Relations Among Processing, Microstructure and Mechanical Properties

Recommended Citation

Yap, Y. K., Menda, J., Vanga, L. K., Kayastha, V., Wang, J., King, L. B., Dimovski, S., & Gogotsi, Y. (2004). Testing multiwall carbon nanotubes on ion erosion for advanced space propulsion. Symposium P – Nanoscale Materials & Modeling-Relations Among Processing, Microstructure and Mechanical Properties, 821. http://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-821-P3.7
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/physics-fp/271