Rogers Corporation offers several laminate materials with low outgassing properties that meet stringent requirements for spacecraft and satellite applications. These materials provide excellent mechanical, thermal, and electrical performance while ensuring minimal volatile release in the vacuum of space, which is critical for maintaining optical and electronic functionality in satellite systems.

Key Materials with Low Outgassing Properties

1. RT/duroid® Series

• Examples: RT/duroid® 5880, RT/duroid® 5870.
• Outgassing Performance:
  • Total Mass Loss (TML): ≤ 0.10%.
  • Collected Volatile Condensable Material (CVCM): ≤ 0.01%.
• Applications:
  • High-frequency antennas.
  • Radar and microwave communication systems.

2. RO3000® Series

• Examples: RO3003™, RO3006™, RO3010™, RO3035™.
• Outgassing Performance:
  • Meets NASA ASTM E595 standards.
  • Consistent dielectric properties in vacuum conditions.
• Applications:
  • Satellite payload systems.
  • High-reliability phased arrays.

3. RO4000® Series

• Examples: RO4003C™, RO4350B™, RO4835™.
• Outgassing Performance:
  • Low moisture absorption ensures stable performance during launch and in orbit.
• Applications:
  • Spaceborne RF and microwave circuits.
  • High-speed digital systems.

Testing Standards for Outgassing

• ASTM E595 Standard:
  • Total Mass Loss (TML): ≤ 1.0%.
  • Collected Volatile Condensable Materials (CVCM): ≤ 0.10%.
  • Water Vapor Recovered (WVR): ≤ 0.10%.
• Rogers laminates regularly meet or exceed these requirements, ensuring suitability for spacecraft use.

Advantages for Space Applications

1. Low Outgassing
   • Reduces the risk of contamination in optical systems, sensors, and sensitive electronics.
2. Dimensional Stability
   • Maintains mechanical integrity during the extreme thermal cycling of space missions.
3. Radiation Resistance
   • PTFE and other high-performance materials used in Rogers laminates provide resistance to ionizing radiation.
4. Thermal Management
   • High thermal conductivity enables efficient heat dissipation in compact satellite designs.
5. High-Frequency Performance
   • Low dielectric loss ensures signal integrity in RF and microwave communication systems.

Applications in Spacecraft Systems

• Antennas: Low-loss, high-frequency performance for satellite communication.
• Sensors and Payloads: Stable dielectric properties for sensor accuracy.
• Power Distribution Systems: Reliability in harsh thermal and vacuum conditions.
• Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Shielding: Reduces signal degradation in spacecraft electronics.

Fabrication and Handling Tips

1. Material Conditioning:
   • Pre-bake laminates to remove absorbed moisture before assembly.
2. Attachment Methods:
   • Use low-outgassing adhesives and soldering materials for component attachment.
3. Drilling and Etching:
   • Employ precision techniques to ensure minimal defect rates, especially for fine-line features.

Rogers laminates, such as the RT/duroid®, RO3000®, and RO4000® series, are well-suited for spacecraft applications due to their low outgassing properties, superior electrical performance, and environmental stability. These characteristics make them an ideal choice for high-reliability satellite systems where performance and durability are critical.