Characterization of Plume Deposition Contamination of Al/PTFE Reactive Materials in Ambient Air for Electrical Propulsion Applications

As one of the primary power sources for deep space propulsion, scholars have extensively researched electrical energy. The utilization of electrical energy in deep space predominantly relies on electric thrusters, and propellant, as one of the engineering components of the system, holds exceptional significance. To comprehensively assess the contamination effects of electric thruster plume backflow on spacecraft and its environmental implications, investigating the plume deposition contamination specifics of energy-containing solid propellants such as Al/PTFE reactive material is crucial. Al/PTFE, known for its robust thermodynamic properties and stability, holds significant promise in defense and military applications. This study employs Al/PTFE as an energy-containing solid propellant, utilizing high-energy laser ablation to create a plume and analyze retained ambient deposits. By examining the spatial distribution, elemental composition, distribution patterns, and atomic ratios of deposited pollutants, this research establishes an empirical foundation for understanding energy-containing solid propellant plumes’ evolution, deposition, and contamination processes. The research results provide experimental data reference for improving the protection scheme in space electric propulsion systems, thereby enhancing overall utilization rate and energy conversion efficiency.