Ricerc@Sapienza

A new hybrid nanocomposite material was developed to monitor the effects of UV-C radiation on space-grade structures. Ultraviolet radiation represents one of the most critical limitations for human space exploration and survival. In particular, the UV-C band with shorter wavelengths (100-280 nm) can severely damage materials and life in space. Ultraviolet sensing films were realized using graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) as signal transducer and DNA as biological sensitive component.

In this paper, we present a study of the effects generated by exposure to UV-C radiation on nanocomposite films made of graphene nanoplatelets dispersed in an epoxy matrix. The nanocomposite films, at different nanoparticle size and concentration, were fabricated on Mylar substrate using the spin coating process. The effects of UV-C irradiation on the surface hydrophobicity and on the electrical properties of the epoxy/graphene films were investigated using contact angle measurements and electrical impedance spectroscopy, respectively.

Nanocomposite coatings on flexible membranes possess many interesting properties useful in aerospace applications, such as thermal blankets and charging mitigation layers. However, their fabrication is not trivial and the overall performance is strongly dependent on the manufacturing process, since it influences the filler distribution and so the homogeneity of the coated film. In this work, carbon nanotube/epoxy nanocomposite films were deposited on Mylar substrates by spray coating process.