About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
MS&T25: Materials Science & Technology
|
| Symposium
|
Materials and Manufacturing in Low Earth Orbit (and Beyond)
|
| Presentation Title |
Ultra-Strong, Lightweight Polymer Composite Films for Space Applications |
| Author(s) |
Tengfei Luo, Seunghyun Moon, JR Dennison |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Tengfei Luo |
| Abstract Scope |
This study examines the radiation resistance of high-strength, highly crystalline polyethylene (PE) composite films for space applications. PE samples were exposed to Strontium-90 beta radiation, 80 keV electron beams, and ultraviolet (UV) light to simulate space conditions. Although the total ionizing dose exceeded 2.5 kGy for both beta and electron irradiation, electron exposure caused more severe mechanical degradation—likely due to higher flux and shallower penetration depth. UV exposure (>600 J/cm˛), simulating over 12 years in space, showed that the PE-graphene composites retained tensile strength above 1.5 GPa. These results highlight the robustness of PE composites under prolonged space radiation and support their use in long-term missions. |