Rogers laminates, including popular materials like RT-duroid® 5870 and 5880, are well-regarded for their low outgassing properties, making them suitable for use in space, vacuum, and other environments where minimal material outgassing is critical.

1. Understanding Outgassing

Outgassing is the release of volatile compounds from a material when exposed to vacuum or high-temperature environments. Excessive outgassing can lead to:

• Contamination of optical or electronic components.
• Degradation of vacuum systems’ performance.
• Impairment of sensitive instruments in space applications.

Key metrics for outgassing are:

• Total Mass Loss (TML): Percentage of material mass lost due to outgassing.
• Collected Volatile Condensable Materials (CVCM): Percentage of volatiles that condense on surfaces.

2. Low Outgassing Properties of Rogers Laminates

Rogers laminates are manufactured with materials and processes optimized to minimize volatile content. Key attributes include:

• PTFE Base: Chemically inert and inherently low in volatile compounds.
• Reinforcement Materials: Glass microfiber or ceramic fillers, further reducing potential volatiles.
• Controlled Manufacturing: Rogers ensures high purity and low residual volatiles in its laminates.

Measured Outgassing Performance

Many Rogers laminates meet the outgassing requirements of NASA’s ASTM E595 standard. Example values for RT-duroid materials:

• RT-duroid 5870 and 5880:
  • TML: < 0.1%
  • CVCM: < 0.01%

These values are well within NASA’s acceptable limits (TML<1.0%\text{TML} < 1.0\%TML<1.0% and CVCM<0.1%\text{CVCM} < 0.1\%CVCM<0.1%).

3. Applications of Low-Outgassing Rogers Laminates

Due to their low outgassing properties, Rogers laminates are widely used in:

• Space Electronics: Antennas, RF systems, and satellite circuits.
• Vacuum Systems: High-frequency circuits in vacuum chambers.
• Scientific Instruments: Sensors and devices in cleanroom environments.
• Optics and Photonics: Components near sensitive optical systems.

4. Design Considerations for Low-Outgassing Applications

1. Material Selection:
   • Prefer laminates with known low outgassing properties, such as RT-duroid 5870/5880 or RO3000 series.
2. Surface Preparation:
   • Use plasma cleaning or similar techniques to remove surface contaminants.
3. Bonding and Adhesives:
   • Choose adhesives with low outgassing properties compatible with Rogers laminates.
4. Testing and Validation:
   • Test assemblies in vacuum conditions to confirm minimal outgassing.

5. Advantages of Rogers Laminates for Space and Vacuum Applications

• High Reliability: Stable electrical and mechanical performance in extreme conditions.
• Low Contamination Risk: Minimal volatiles protect sensitive instruments.
• Broad Compatibility: Suitable for cryogenic and high-temperature environments.