Ricerc@Sapienza

In this review, some results of the experimental activity carried out by the authors on advanced composite materials for space applications are reported. Composites are widely employed in the aerospace industry thanks to their lightweight and advanced thermo-mechanical and electrical properties. A critical issue to tackle using engineered materials for space activities is providing two or more specific functionalities by means of single items/components.

Human space missions beyond near Earth orbit require mitigating risk factors associated with radiation exposure. Current materials show many limitations in this regard and their applications in crew exploration vehicles, spacesuits and human habitats need further technological advancement. At the moment, polyethylene layers offer the most effective protection against high-energy charged particles in space, yet this material is mainly used in non-structural applications due to its poor mechanical properties.