Photostimulated degradation of the reflectivity of white anodic-oxide coatings on Al alloy (Al-AOCs) that are used as thermal-regulating
coatings of space vehicles is investigated by spectroscopy of diffuse reflection in the region of 0.5–6 eV. It is established
that irradiation in vaccum when λ≤300 nm leads to the appearance in diffuse-reflection spectra of the absorption bands at
4.0 and ∼4.6 eV that are similar to these induced by vacuum heating for T≥350 K. A growth in the absorption bands is accompanied
by gas release from the coatings. These processes have a common excitation spectrum, basic kinetic regularities, and a thermoactivated
character. UV irradiation in vacuum is assumed to initiate Al-AOC destruction with the formation of color centers. This process
is accompanied by the desorption of molecular products.
Key words anodic-oxide coating on aluminum - photostimulated degradation of reflectivity - photodesorption - color centers
Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 64, No. 6, pp. 801–806, November–December, 1997.