Flexible Polyimide-Based Materials for Radiation Shielding Applications in Space Missions

The increasing interest in space exploration has emphasized the focus on the safety of astronauts and spacecraft components, particularly regarding the harmful effects of space radiation. Space radiation, including galactic cosmic rays and solar particle events, poses significant risks, such as the ionization of atoms and the subsequent damage to biological tissues and critical electronic systems aboard spacecraft. As future space missions are expected to extend in duration and complexity, the need for effective radiation protection has become crucial to ensure the long-term safety and success of human missions beyond Earth's atmosphere. Traditional metal-based shields, although effective in blocking different types of radiation, pose significant challenges due to their weight, rigidity, and the high cost of transporting these materials into space. Hence, the need to develop novel advanced materials able to provide both effective radiation protection and the flexibility required to meet the specific demands of space environments. This work addresses these challenges through the design and fabrication of flexible polyimide-based radiation shields by using the electrospinning technique. Effective radiation shielding fillers are embedded in the polymer matrix. The strategic combination of low and high atomic number layers enhances the overall radiation attenuation capacity of the shields. This multilayered architecture allows for a more comprehensive defense against space radiation while maintaining the mechanical flexibility and adaptability required for various spacecraft surfaces. Moreover, the lightweight nature of these electrospun polyimide-based materials can lead to substantial reductions in overall spacecraft weight, thereby reducing launch costs and improving mission efficiency.