An Ion Thruster Accelerating Electrode Made of Carbon-Carbon Composite Material

Abstract

At present, the requirements for the lifetime of electric propulsion thrusters of spacecraft are growing. The article is devoted to the selection of material of the accelerating electrode that is the critical element of the ion thruster from the lifetime point of view. The accelerating electrode of the ion thruster is exposed to bombardment by charge-exchange ions, which cause its erosion. The rate of erosion depends on the ion-sputtering rate of the material from which the accelerating electrode is made. Graphite-based materials have the lowest ion-sputtering rate. The article considers the use of carbon–carbon composite material based on the Ipresscon^® carbon frame developed by OAO Kompozit as a material for manufacturing the ion thruster accelerating electrode. The results of calculation of erosion of such material and experimental verification of its application in the construction of the ion thruster are given in the article.