Abstract: A phased array antenna radiator assembly that in one embodiment has a thermally conductive foam substrate, a plurality of metal radiating elements bonded to the foam substrate, and a radome supported adjacent the metal radiating elements. In another embodiment a phased array antenna radiator assembly is disclosed that has a thermally conductive substrate, a plurality of metal radiating elements bonded to the thermally conductive substrate, a radome supported adjacent the metal radiating elements, and an electrostatically dissipative adhesive in contact with the radiating elements for bonding the radome to the thermally conductive substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to electrically conductive adhesives. More particularly, the disclosure is directed to electrically conductive adhesives comprising an organic polymer resin and an electrically conductive polymer. Advantageously, the electrically conductive adhesives have low RF loss, and are thus suitable for use in a space radar antenna and in other antenna applications where antenna components are in the RF field of view.

Abstract: An electrostatic dissipative paint including a plurality of particles having a composition selected from the group consisting of gallium magnesium oxide, gallium aluminum magnesium oxide and combinations thereof. The paint further includes an inorganic binder mixed with the particles to form a mixture. A method of making a thermal paint, a method of applying thermal paint and painted components are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to electrically conductive adhesives. More particularly, the disclosure is directed to electrically conductive adhesives comprising an organic polymer resin and an electrically conductive polymer. Advantageously, the electrically conductive adhesives have low RF loss, and are thus suitable for use in a space radar antenna and in other antenna applications where antenna components are in the RF field of view.

Abstract: A phased array antenna radiator assembly that in one embodiment has a thermally conductive foam substrate, a plurality of metal radiating elements bonded to the foam substrate, and a radome supported adjacent the metal radiating elements. In another embodiment a phased array antenna radiator assembly is disclosed that has a thermally conductive substrate, a plurality of metal radiating elements bonded to the thermally conductive substrate, a radome supported adjacent the metal radiating elements, and an electrostatically dissipative adhesive in contact with the radiating elements for bonding the radome to the thermally conductive substrate.

Abstract: An electrostatic dissipative paint including a plurality of particles having a composition selected from the group consisting of gallium magnesium oxide, gallium aluminum magnesium oxide and combinations thereof. The paint further includes an inorganic binder mixed with the particles to form a mixture. A method of making a thermal paint, a method of applying thermal paint and painted components are also disclosed.

Abstract: A component that is reflective for broadcast-frequency energy includes a nonmetallic substrate having a substrate surface, and a layered coating overlying and contacting the substrate. The layered coating has an electrically conductive layer overlying and contacting the substrate surface, and a layer of a white paint overlying and contacting the electrically conductive layer. The white paint is formed of a plurality of particles including a plurality of pigment particles. Each pigment particle has a composition of A[xAl(1?x)Ga]2O4(?D), A is selected from the group consisting of zinc, cadmium, and magnesium, D is a dopant selected from the group consisting of a cationic dopant having an ionic valence greater than +2 and an anionic dopant, the value of x is from 0 to 1, and the value of ? is from 0 to about 0.2. The paint further includes an inorganic or an organic binder mixed with the particles to form a mixture.

Abstract: A component that is reflective for broadcast-frequency energy includes a nonmetallic substrate having a substrate surface, and a layered coating overlying and contacting the substrate. The layered coating has an electrically conductive layer overlying and contacting the substrate surface, and a layer of a white paint overlying and contacting the electrically conductive layer. The white paint is formed of a plurality of particles including a plurality of pigment particles. Each pigment particle has a composition of A[xAl(1−x)Ga]2O4(&dgr;D), A is selected from the group consisting of zinc, cadmium, and magnesium, D is a dopant selected from the group consisting of a cationic dopant having an ionic valence greater than +2 and an anionic dopant, the value of x is from 0 to 1, and the value of &dgr; is from 0 to about 0.2. The paint further includes an inorganic or an organic binder mixed with the particles to form a mixture.

Abstract: A paint is prepared by first preparing a pigment mixture by the steps of providing an electrically conductive paint pigment, providing an aqueous paint vehicle, and mixing and milling the paint pigment and the paint vehicle to reduce a particle size of the paint pigment and to form a pigment mixture. A liquid paint is thereafter prepared by the steps of providing an inorganic paint binder, and mixing and dispersing the pigment mixture in the paint binder without substantially reducing the particle size of the paint pigment. The liquid paint is thereafter applied to a surface and dried to form a solid paint.

Abstract: A conformally coated structure includes a component of an electronic assembly, such as a microelectronic device, a part of a package, or an electrically conductive trace, and a conformal coating applied to a surface of the structure. The conformal coating is a cured polymer blend of a base polymer and an electrically conductive polymer. The polymer blend has an electrical resistivity of from about 109 to about 1013 ohm-centimeter. The polymer blend contains from about 0.5 percent to about 4 percent by weight of the electrically conductive polymer, with the remainder the base polymer. The electrically conductive polymer may be a polyaniline, and the base polymer may be a urethane.

Abstract: A paint is prepared by first preparing a pigment mixture by the steps of providing an electrically conductive paint pigment, providing an aqueous paint vehicle, and mixing and milling the paint pigment and the paint vehicle to reduce a particle size of the paint pigment and to form a pigment mixture. A liquid paint is thereafter prepared by the steps of providing an inorganic paint binder, and mixing and dispersing the pigment mixture in the paint binder without substantially reducing the particle size of the paint pigment. The liquid paint is thereafter applied to a surface and dried to form a solid paint.

Abstract: An electronic assembly is fabricated by tinning a solder to the electrical bonding pads of a printed circuit board, and applying an adhesive, preferably a filled polyurethane adhesive, to the component that is to be bonded to the printed circuit board. The component is contacted to its bonding location on the printed circuit board, and the electrical contact on the component is contacted to the tinned bonding pads. The assembly is heated in a single solder temperature/time reflow cycle to simultaneously cure the adhesive and solder the electrical contacts to the bonding pads.

Abstract: A spacecraft has internal structure which generates heat, and a radiator element in thermal communication with the spacecraft internal structure. The radiator element has a radiating surface and a coating on the radiating surface including a white thermal control paint. The paint has an initial solar absorptance of not greater than 0.16 and an initial infrared emittance of not less than about 0.80. The standard end-of-life projected solar absorptance is not more than about 0.33 for a paint with an inorganic binder, and the standard end-of-life projected solar absorptance is not more than about 0.6 for a paint with an organic binder.

Abstract: A black film useful in thermal control has a matrix with 100 parts by weight of a polymer, and from about 1 to about 6 parts by weight of an electrically conductive carbon pigment having a porous, sponge-like structure dispersed through the matrix. The film may be a freestanding film, typically about 0.001 to about 0.003 inches thick, used as a radome. The film may instead be a liquid paint or a solid paint applied to a surface.

Abstract: An article is a liquid or solid mixture of a plurality of particles and a binder. The article may be a paint or a freestanding film. The particles have a composition A[xAl(1-x)Ga].sub.2 O.sub.4+.gamma. (.delta.In), wherein A is zinc, magnesium, and/or cadmium, the value of x is from 0 to 1, the value of .delta. is from 0 to about 0.2, and the value of .gamma. is less than about 0.2. In the liquid paint mixture, a paint vehicle is also typically present to impart the desired fluidity to the mixture. The solid paint or film made using this material is white, has very low solar absorptance, and may be made electrically conductive by doping the particles with indium or other appropriate dopant.

Abstract: A structure is formed of at least two structural elements that are bonded together with an electrically conductive organic adhesive system. The adhesive system is a mixture of an organic adhesive such as a thermosetting epoxy and a filler of electrically conductive carbon particles having a porous, sponge-like structure. In one application, the structural elements are exterior panels of a spacecraft coated with an electrically conductive paint, and in other applications the structural elements are not coated. The adhesive system permits static electrical charge to flow through otherwise insulated joints to equalize the static potential throughout the structure and eventually to dissipate the charge.

Abstract: A structure protected by a sunshield film includes an article, for example a spacecraft radio-frequency antenna, and a sunshield film protecting the article surface. The sunshield film is formed as a sheet substrate made of a material that is transparent to radio frequency energy, a white coating on one side of the sheet substrate, and a black coating on the other side of the sheet substrate. The white coating and the black coating each have a surface resistivity of from about 10.sup.8 to about 10.sup.9 ohms per square.

Abstract: A spacecraft has internal structure which generates heat, and a radiator element in thermal communication with the spacecraft internal structure. The radiator element has a radiating surface and a coating on the radiating surface including a white thermal control paint. The paint has an initial solar absorptance of not greater than about 0.20 and an initial infrared emittance of not less than about 0.80. The standard end-of-life projected solar absorptance is not more than about 0.3 for a paint with an inorganic binder, and the standard end-of-life projected solar absorptance is not more than about 0.6 for a paint with an organic binder.

Abstract: An article such as a spacecraft thermal radiator includes a substrate having a white thermal control coating thereon. The thermal control coating is formed of a matrix of a silica/silicate transformation product of a ceramic precursor, and a plurality of doped zinc oxide pigment particles distributed in the matrix. The zinc oxide pigment particles are doped with an element that forms shallow donorlike states in the zinc oxide. The coating has a solar absorptance of from about 0.2 to about 0.3 and an initial electrical resistivity of from about 1.times.10.sup.6 ohms per square to about 1.times.10.sup.8 ohms per square. The coating is stable at continuous operating temperatures of 225.degree. C., with short-term exposures of up to 800.degree. C.

Abstract: An article is a liquid or solid mixture of a plurality of particles and a binder. The article may be a paint or a freestanding film. The particles have a composition A?xAl(1-x)Ga!.sub.2 O.sub.4 (.delta.In), wherein A is zinc or cadmium, the value of x is from 0 to 1, and the value of .delta. is from 0 to about 0.2. In the liquid paint mixture, a paint vehicle is also typically present to impart the desired fluidity to the mixture. The solid paint or film made using this material is white, has very low solar absorptance, and may be made electrically conductive by doping the particles with indium or other appropriate dopant.