LAUSR

On the basis of analysis of published data on the reaction efficiency of various polymer materials and graphite in their interaction with fast oxygen atoms (energy of about 4.5 eV) as obtained in flight tests of materials in low-Earth orbits of the International Space Station and ground tests, probability Pr of chemical oxidation reactions accompanied by ablation has been evaluated. Estimates have been made for 33 polymers consisting of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen and graphite for two extreme cases when the carboncontaining oxidation products are either CO or CO2 alone. The average probability values found are Pr(CO)(av) = 0.184 and Pr(CO2)(av) = 0.317. The probability values range from Pr(CO) = 0.604 and Pr(CO2) = 0.963 for allyl diglycol carbonate to Pr(CO) = 0.038 and Pr(CO2) = 0.075 for pyrolytic graphite.