Ricerc@Sapienza

Human space missions beyond near Earth orbit call for new materials to mitigate risk factors associated with radiation exposure. Current materials show many limitations in this regard for applications in crew exploration vehicles, spacesuits and human habitats. The technological solutions are mainly based polyethylene materials, which have high hydrogen content. These polymers are non-structural and their overall properties are quite low, considering the operative conditions in space.

In additive manufacturing (3D printing) processes, polyethylene (PE) filaments can be taken into consideration build and recycle components in space, thus reducing costs, risks, and logistics issues that can occur during a long-term mission beyond Low Earth Orbits. In fact, the excellent radiation shielding properties of polyethylene, which are due to its high content of hydrogen, have found consensus among the scientific community. On the other hand, PE shows poor mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties.

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.