Numerous subsystems make up a spaceship, requiring temperatures within narrow parameters to perform at peak performance. By carefully choosing the thermal and optical characteristics, notably solar absorption and infrared Emittance, the passive thermal controller plays a crucial part in keeping spaceship components within the necessary temperature ranges. Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) of AA5052 studies to develop a solar glass coating suitable for use in outer space. An electrolyte of sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) to create these coatings. Specifically, the layer’s thermal and optical performance is investigated as a function of pulse on time, process time and pulse frequencies, and the electrolyte composition used. The PEO coating thickness is personalized to achieve thermo-optical qualities on par with or better than those achieved with standard sulphuric acid anodizing. The improved coating is put through its paces to ensure it can function as a thermal control surface in space, with testing including adhesion, humidity, and performance in simulated space conditions including thermal cycling and thermo-vacuum. The morphological, microstructural characteristics, and arrangement of coatings achieved through the PEO progression and conventional sulphuric acid anodizing are compared using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (XPS).
