Flexible Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Gels for Radiation Shielding in Next-Generation Spacesuits
Lucia LAMBERTINI, Maria Gabriella SANTONICOLA, Susanna LAURENZI
Abstract. Protecting astronauts from radiation during space missions is a critical challenge. In the current context, where space agencies are working to establish permanent bases on the lunar surface, radiation shielding becomes an even more crucial issue. Indeed, as missions venture farther from Earth, crews lose the natural shielding provided by the Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere, resulting in high exposure to ionizing radiation. This study explores the integration of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) gels as flexible intermediate layers in lunar spacesuits to enhance radiation shielding on lunar surface. Experimental tests demonstrated that PVA gels possess similar density and thermal conductivity to nylon but greater flexibility, denoted by their high strain at failure during tensile tests. Numerical simulations highlights that the gels‘ inclusion in spacesuits highly reduces total effective doses equivalent due to Solar Particle Events.
Keywords
Spacesuit Radiation Shielding, Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Gels, Shielding Materials
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: Lucia LAMBERTINI, Maria Gabriella SANTONICOLA, Susanna LAURENZI, Flexible Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Gels for Radiation Shielding in Next-Generation Spacesuits, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 69, pp 1272-1277, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904251-220
The article was published as article 220 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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