Improvement of microcathode arc thruster lifetime by deposition of boron-containing coating

Статья в журнале

Boron-containing coatings are actively used to improve the surface properties of mechanical parts of various devices and cutting tools. In this Paper, we demonstrate that deposition of boron-containing coatings by direct electron-beam evaporation of a boron target with a fore-vacuum plasma-cathode electron source can be used to substantially (by a factor of approximately 6–17) improve the lifetime of miniature (centimeter-sized), low-power (several watts), micronewton thrust level microcathode arc thrusters. Such improvement is a result of slowing down the interelectrode film degradation that occurs after numerous arc pulses. This improvement is observed after applying a hard (resistant to shock by plasma in a single pulse) sputter-resistant (able to maintain its protective properties for numerous pulses) boron coating on the interelectrode dielectric (alumina ceramic). This finding opens up a new way to improve the performance and lifetime of low-power vacuum-arc based propulsion devices for small satellites.

Журнал:

Journal of Propulsion and Power
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc. (New York City)
Индексируется в Scopus, Web of Science

Библиографическая запись: Improvement of micro-cathode arc thruster lifetime by deposition of boron-containing coating / D. B. Zolotukhin [et al.] // Journal of Propulsion and Power. – 2020. – Vol. 36. – Iss. 5. – P. 744-751. – DOI: 10.2514/1.B37790

Ключевые слова:

VACUUM ARC THRUSTER PLASMA PROPULSION

Индексируется в:

Авторы: Золотухин Д. Б., Тюньков А. В., Юшков Ю. Г., Окс Е. М., Кейдар М.

Год издания: 2020

Страницы: 744 - 751

Язык: Английский

DOI: 10.2514/1.B37790