Innovative Hybrid Polymeric Composites for Lunar Applications: Enhanced Dust Mitigation and Superior Self-Healing Performance

Within the context of lunar dust mitigation technologies, increasing attention is being directed toward the design and development of high-performance polymers that combine exceptional thermo-mechanical properties with enhanced abhesion, i.e., non-sticking ability when in contact with micrometric dust particles of lunar regolith. These materials represent a promising, reliable, energy-saving and effective solution to the critical challenges posed by the challenging and harsh Moondust environment, which can lead to mechanical clogging, obscuration of optical systems, malfunctioning of electronic components, interference with extravehicular activities, and damage to astronauts’ visors, gloves, and boots, even to causing serious respiratory injuries if inhaled. The threat is worsened by the unique chemical and physical nature of lunar dust: electrically charged, extremely adherent, and composed of sharp, hard, irregularly shaped particles capable of causing abrasion and wear to exposed surfaces. To address these complex issues, in the framework of SELf hEaling iNnovative hydrofobic polimEric material (SELENE) project, the Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA) and Sapienza Università di Roma, under Italian Space Agency (ASI) financial support, have started the design of a novel, lightweight and multifunctional hybrid co-polyimide composite engineered for enhanced passive dust mitigation and self-healing capabilities. The proposed material integrates, in an advanced polymeric bulk, appropriately chemically formulated and functionalized according to an innovative chemical strategy, to possess superior abhesion behaviour, two complementary self-healing mechanisms. These will be achieved through the incorporation of specially designed microcapsules, including healing agents and crosslinking catalysts triggered by the Moon's environmental characteristics itself, and by means of intrinsic strategies, consisting of blending with a secondary polymer capable of establishing reversible non-covalent bonds with the main co-polyimide matrix. This synergistic approach not only restores structural integrity after surface damage exerted by abrasion of dust particles but also allows the composite to recover nearly all of its original outstanding mechanical performance.