On October 31, 2022, the China Mengtian Experimental Module was successfully launched, with 150,000 pieces of anti irradiation glass covers known as the "armor" of the spacecraft.
China's space station uses three kinds of high-performance anti irradiation glass products produced by QHXJ High Performance Glass Technology Corporation, which are respectively used in energy system, temperature control system and lighting system.
A total of 400,000 pieces of lightweight flexible radiation resistant glass products developed by QHXJ were used on the Chinese space station this time. Compared with the traditional (radiation resistant glass) cover, it can achieve 13.2kg weight reduction.
The lightweight flexible anti irradiation glass cover of solar cell panel used in the energy system of Mengtian experimental cabin.
Its function is to cover the outer surface of the entire solar panel, and protect the solar cell from the damage caused by various large doses of harmful radiation and impact in space.
The thickness of the flexible cover sheet is only about 0.1mm, which can be bent without breaking and has a certain flexibility.
Lightweight flexible irradiation resistant glass cover
In order to reduce the weight of the flexible anti irradiation glass cover, it is necessary to make the anti irradiation glass cover thinner, and researchers must seek a balance on more than ten "contradictory" technical indicators.
In order to reduce weight and thickness, the first step is to adjust the glass formula. The special feature of radiation resistant glass is that a dozen of very strict technical indicators contradict each other.
Therefore, after thinning, the radiation resistance will be weakened. After repeated tests, hundreds of times. Through melting, testing, melting and testing again and again, the material formula and appropriate production process can be finally found.
From recipe preparation to glass melting to flawless synthesis, more than 40 processes are required. The improvement of each technical parameter is the ultimate pursuit of the R&D team.
The thickness of the traditional glass cover, namely 0.2 mm and 0.3 mm, is already very thin. Let it be thinner to 0.1mm even 0.03mm For the optical processing of ultra-thin glass, we have achieved the ultimate in each process from the source to the source and then to the subsequent flexible treatment process.
This lightweight flexible radiation resistant glass cover was developed for one and a half years. Through environmental assessment tests such as high dose atomic oxygen, high and low temperature, and ultraviolet light, it can reduce the reflection of sunlight, filter out harmful ultraviolet light, improve the ability of solar cells to withstand space charged particle radiation damage, reduce the degradation of solar cell performance, and ensure the safe operation of space vehicles.