Engineering Polyimide Materials for Moon Exploration Missions: Intrinsic Self-Healing and Shape Memory Properties via Supramolecular Interactions

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.