Improved laser ablation propulsion efficiency in composite polymers, containing reduced graphene oxide, by the spontaneous formation of a confining layer

Laser ablation is becoming an attractive space propulsion technique, allowing the generation of an impulse on the irradiated object using an energy source remotely located from the body. This is a promising strategy for control of micro/nano satellites, also having perspectives in space debris mitigation. Polymers are good candidates as targets for satellite control, due to their high momentum coupling coefficient (Cm), which can also be considerably improved by initially confining the expansion of the ablation plume. This work shows that a confinement layer spontaneously forms during irradiation of a nanocomposite material formed by Poly(lactic acid) (PLA), Poly(1,12- dodecamethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PDoF) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), when rGO concentration is 0.25 phr and 0.5 phr, due to the non-miscibility of PLA and PDoF and the preferential inclusion of rGO into the PDoF domains. This is an innovative aspect for laser propulsion targets, representing a first step for obtaining multiple confinement processes. The microstructure of this material at different rGO contents is characterized by using scanning electron and atomic force microscopic techniques, while its optical properties are analysed with UV–Visible spectroscopy. The generated mechanical impulse under laser ablation in vacuum is then measured by using a specifically designed ballistic pendulum.