Imagine a priceless painting that has been devastated by a devastating fire. Beautiful paints, painstakingly applied in many shades, disappeared under layers of black soot. It would seem that the masterpiece is irretrievably lost.
Science magic
But don't despair. The painting is placed in a vacuum chamber, inside which an invisible powerful substance called atomic oxygen is created. Over the course of several hours or days, the plaque slowly but surely disappears and the colors begin to reappear. Finished with a fresh coat of clear lacquer, the painting returns to its former glory.
It may seem like magic, but it's science. The method, developed by scientists at NASA's Glenn Research Center (GRC), uses atomic oxygen to preserve and restore otherwise irreparably damaged art. Substance alsoable to completely sterilize surgical implants intended for the human body, greatly reducing the risk of inflammation. For diabetic patients, it could improve a glucose monitoring device that would require only a portion of the blood previously needed for testing so that patients can monitor their condition. The substance can texture the surface of polymers for better adhesion of bone cells, which opens up new possibilities in medicine.
And this powerful substance can be obtained straight out of thin air.
Atomic and molecular oxygen
Oxygen exists in several different forms. The gas we breathe in is called O2, meaning it is made up of two atoms. There is also atomic oxygen, the formula of which is O (one atom). The third form of this chemical element is O3. This is ozone, which, for example, is found in the upper atmosphere of the Earth.
Atomic oxygen in natural conditions on the surface of the Earth cannot exist for a long time. It has an extremely high reactivity. For example, atomic oxygen in water forms hydrogen peroxide. But in space, where there is a lot of ultraviolet radiation, O2 molecules break apart more easily to form an atomic form. The atmosphere in low Earth orbit is 96% atomic oxygen. In the early days of NASA space shuttle missions, it caused problems.
Harm for good
According to Bruce Banks, senior physicistAt Alphaport, a space environment research affiliate of the Glenn Center, after the first few flights of the shuttle, the materials of its construction looked like they were covered in frost (they were heavily eroded and textured). Atomic oxygen reacts with organic spacecraft skin materials, gradually damaging them.
GIZ started investigating the causes of the damage. As a result, the researchers not only created methods to protect spacecraft from atomic oxygen, they also found a way to use the potential destructive power of this chemical element to improve life on Earth.
Erosion in space
When a spacecraft is in low Earth orbit (where manned vehicles are launched and where the ISS is based), atomic oxygen formed from the residual atmosphere can react with the surface of spacecraft, causing damage to them. During the development of the station's power supply system, there were concerns that solar cell arrays made of polymers would rapidly degrade due to the action of this active oxidizer.
Flexible glass
NASA found a solution. A group of scientists from the Glenn Research Center developed a thin-film coating for solar cells that was immune to the action of a corrosive element. Silicon dioxide, or glass, is already oxidized, so it cannot be damaged by atomic oxygen. Researcherscreated a coating of transparent silicon glass, so thin that it became flexible. This protective layer adheres strongly to the polymer of the panel and protects it from erosion without compromising any of its thermal properties. The coating has so far successfully protected the International Space Station's solar arrays and has also been used to protect Mir's solar cells.
The solar panels have successfully survived more than a decade in space, Banks said.
Taming the Power
By running hundreds of tests that were part of the development of the atomic oxygen resistant coating, a team of scientists at the Glenn Research Center gained experience in understanding how the chemical works. The experts saw other possibilities for using the aggressive element.
According to Banks, the group became aware of the change in surface chemistry, the erosion of organic materials. The properties of atomic oxygen are such that it is able to remove any organic, hydrocarbon, which does not easily react with ordinary chemicals.
Researchers have discovered many ways to use it. They learned that atomic oxygen turns the surfaces of silicones into glass, which can be useful in making components hermetically sealed without them sticking to each other. This process was developed to seal the International Space Station. In addition, scientists have discovered that atomic oxygen can repair and preserve damaged cells.works of art, improve the materials of aircraft structures, as well as benefit people, as it can be used in a variety of biomedical applications.
Cameras and portable devices
There are various ways in which atomic oxygen can affect a surface. Vacuum chambers are most commonly used. They range in size from a shoe box to a 1.2 x 1.8 x 0.9 m installation. O2 molecules are broken down into atomic oxygen using microwave or radio frequency radiation. A polymer sample is placed in the chamber, the level of erosion of which indicates the concentration of the active substance inside the installation.
Another way to apply a substance is a portable device that allows you to direct a narrow stream of oxidizer to a specific target. It is possible to create a battery of such streams that can cover a large area of the treated surface.
As more research is done, a growing number of industries are showing interest in using atomic oxygen. NASA has established many partnerships, joint ventures, and subsidiaries that have been successful in many commercial areas in most cases.
Atomic oxygen for the body
The study of the scope of this chemical element is not limited to outer space. Atomic oxygen, the useful properties of which have been determined, but even more of them remain to be studied, has found many medicalapplications.
It is used to texturize the surface of polymers and make them able to fuse with bone. Polymers usually repel bone cells, but the chemically active element creates a texture that enhances adhesion. This leads to another benefit that atomic oxygen brings - the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
This oxidizing agent can also be used to remove biologically active contaminants from surgical implants. Even with modern sterilization practices, it can be difficult to remove all bacterial cell residues, called endotoxins, from the surface of implants. These substances are organic, but not living, so sterilization is not able to remove them. Endotoxins can cause post-implant inflammation, which is one of the main causes of pain and potential complications in implant patients.
Atomic oxygen, whose beneficial properties allow you to clean the prosthesis and remove all traces of organic materials, significantly reduces the risk of postoperative inflammation. This leads to better outcomes of operations and less pain for patients.
Relief for diabetics
The technology is also used in glucose sensors and other life science monitors. They use acrylic optical fibers textured with atomic oxygen. This processing allows the fibers to filter out the red blood cells, allowing the blood serum to more effectively contact thecomponent of the chemical sensing monitor.
According to Sharon Miller, an electrical engineer in the Space Environment and Experiments Department at NASA's Glenn Research Center, this makes the test more accurate, while requiring a much smaller volume of blood to measure a person's blood sugar. You can get an injection almost anywhere on your body and get enough blood to set your blood sugar levels.
Another way to get atomic oxygen is hydrogen peroxide. It is a much stronger oxidizing agent than a molecular one. This is due to the ease with which peroxide decomposes. Atomic oxygen, which is formed in this case, acts much more energetically than molecular oxygen. This is the reason for the practical use of hydrogen peroxide: the destruction of molecules of dyes and microorganisms.
Restoration
When artworks are in danger of irreversible damage, atomic oxygen can be used to remove organic contaminants, leaving the painting material intact. The process removes all organic materials such as carbon or soot, but generally does not work on the paint. Pigments are mostly inorganic in origin and are already oxidized, which means that oxygen will not damage them. Organic dyes can also be saved with careful timing of exposure. The canvas is completely safe, since atomic oxygen is in contact only with the surface of the picture.
Artworks are placed in a vacuum chamber, inwhich the oxidant is produced. Depending on the degree of damage, the painting can remain there from 20 to 400 hours. A stream of atomic oxygen can also be used for special treatment of a damaged area in need of restoration. This eliminates the need to place artwork in a vacuum chamber.
Soot and lipstick are not a problem
Museums, galleries and churches have begun contacting the GIC to preserve and restore their works of art. The research center has demonstrated the ability to restore a damaged painting by Jackson Pollack, remove lipstick from an Andy Warhol painting, and preserve smoke-damaged canvases at St. Stanislaus Church in Cleveland. The Glenn Research Center team used atomic oxygen to restore a piece thought to be lost, a centuries-old Italian copy of Raphael's Madonna in the Chair, owned by St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Cleveland.
According to Banks, this chemical element is very effective. In artistic restoration, it works perfectly. True, this is not something that can be purchased in a bottle, but it is much more effective.
Exploring the future
NASA has worked on a reimbursable basis with a variety of parties interested in atomic oxygen. The Glenn Research Center served individuals whose priceless works of art had been damaged in house fires, as well as corporations looking for uses for the substance.in biomedical applications such as LightPointe Medical of Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The company has discovered many uses for atomic oxygen and is looking to find more.
According to Banks, there are many unexplored areas. A significant number of applications have been discovered for space technology, but there are probably more lurking outside of space technology.
Space in the service of man
The group of scientists hopes to continue exploring ways to use atomic oxygen, as well as promising directions already found. Many technologies have been patented, and the GIZ team hopes that companies will license and commercialize some of them, which will bring even more benefits to humanity.
Under certain conditions, atomic oxygen can cause damage. Thanks to NASA researchers, this substance is now making a positive contribution to space exploration and life on Earth. Whether it is the preservation of priceless works of art or the healing of people, atomic oxygen is the strongest tool. Working with him is rewarded a hundredfold, and its results become visible immediately.
