Radiation shielding performance and molecular stability of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber-reinforced hydrogen-rich polybenzoxazine composites following space environment exposure on the International Space Station

IF 21.8 2区材料科学 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, COMPOSITES

Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials Pub Date : 2025-10-01 DOI:10.1007/s42114-025-01451-6

Chris Scott, Pablo Froimowicz, Scott Winroth, Sheila A. Thibeault, Hatsuo Ishida

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Abstract

This study investigates the performance and molecular stability of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber-reinforced hydrogen-rich polybenzoxazine composites exposed to the space environment on the International Space Station (ISS). The composite is designed specifically for spacecraft applications requiring lightweight radiation shielding against galactic cosmic rays and solar particle events. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and short beam shear testing were used to evaluate both surface degradation and bulk property retention. Chemical degradation due to direct sunlight exposure is limited to the uppermost 30 nm of the composite surface, with formation of hydroxyl and carbonyl groups. No significant changes in the glass transition temperature (T_g), short beam shear strength, or density are observed between space-exposed and control samples. Thermoluminescence dosimetry data indicated significant attenuation of incident radiation. This study confirms the potential of the UHMWPE composite material for use as a multifunctional structure and radiation shield for extended space missions.

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超高分子量聚乙烯（UHMWPE）纤维增强富氢聚苯并恶嗪复合材料在国际空间站空间环境暴露后的辐射屏蔽性能和分子稳定性

本文研究了超高分子量聚乙烯（UHMWPE）纤维增强富氢聚苯并恶嗪复合材料在国际空间站（ISS）空间环境下的性能和分子稳定性。这种复合材料是专门为航天器应用而设计的，需要对银河宇宙射线和太阳粒子事件进行轻型辐射屏蔽。采用傅里叶变换红外光谱（FT-IR）、x射线光电子能谱（XPS）、动态力学分析（DMA）和短束剪切测试来评估表面降解和体性能保留。由于阳光直射导致的化学降解仅限于复合材料表面最上面30nm处，形成羟基和羰基。在空间暴露样品和对照样品之间，玻璃化转变温度（Tg）、短束剪切强度或密度没有显著变化。热释光剂量学数据显示入射辐射显著衰减。这项研究证实了超高分子量聚乙烯复合材料作为多功能结构和辐射屏蔽材料用于扩展空间任务的潜力。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials Multiple-

CiteScore

26.00

自引率

21.40%

发文量

185

期刊介绍： Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials is a leading international journal that promotes interdisciplinary collaboration among materials scientists, engineers, chemists, biologists, and physicists working on composites, including nanocomposites. Our aim is to facilitate rapid scientific communication in this field. The journal publishes high-quality research on various aspects of composite materials, including materials design, surface and interface science/engineering, manufacturing, structure control, property design, device fabrication, and other applications. We also welcome simulation and modeling studies that are relevant to composites. Additionally, papers focusing on the relationship between fillers and the matrix are of particular interest. Our scope includes polymer, metal, and ceramic matrices, with a special emphasis on reviews and meta-analyses related to materials selection. We cover a wide range of topics, including transport properties, strategies for controlling interfaces and composition distribution, bottom-up assembly of nanocomposites, highly porous and high-density composites, electronic structure design, materials synergisms, and thermoelectric materials. Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials follows a rigorous single-blind peer-review process to ensure the quality and integrity of the published work.