Engineering Polyimide Materials for Moon Exploration Missions: Intrinsic Self-Healing and Shape Memory Properties via Supramolecular Interactions
Francesca BLONDELLI, Elisa TOTO, Guido SACCONE, Nunzia FAVALORO, Maria Gabriella SANTONICOLA
Abstract. Polyimides are a well-established class of high-performance polymers known for their excellent thermal and chemical stability, mechanical robustness, low outgassing, and radiation resistance. These properties have made polyimides essential in aerospace applications, both for systems operating in low Earth orbit and for those used in long-term exploration missions. In recent years, polyimides have attracted growing interest for planetary exploration, particularly for lunar missions. The critical challenges of these missions include mechanical abrasion from regolith dust and the extreme temperature fluctuations. These conditions can damage exposed surfaces and compromise system performance. To overcome these challenges, self-healing materials represent a promising strategy, enabling polymers to autonomously repair mechanical damage and thereby enhance the reliability and operational lifetime of spacecraft components.
Keywords
Polyimide, Self-Healing Properties, Shape Memory Ability, Supramolecular Interactions, Lunar Exploration Missions
Published online 7/20/2026, 6 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Francesca BLONDELLI, Elisa TOTO, Guido SACCONE, Nunzia FAVALORO, Maria Gabriella SANTONICOLA, Engineering Polyimide Materials for Moon Exploration Missions: Intrinsic Self-Healing and Shape Memory Properties via Supramolecular Interactions, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 69, pp 614-619, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904251-109
The article was published as article 109 of the book CEAS – AIDAA Conference 2025
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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