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Advanced Polymer Materials and Composites: Manufacturing, Properties, and Applications in the Aerospace Field

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymeric Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2024) | Viewed by 1520

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Astronautical Electrical and Energy Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Salaria 851-881, 00138 Rome, Italy
Interests: design and manufacturing of aerospace structures; engineering of nanocomposites and advanced composite materials for aerospace applications; in situ manufacturing process on Moon and Mars; radiation shielding for human space exploration; ultrathin-composite boom structures
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Department of Chemical Engineering Materials Environment, Sapienza University of Rome, Via del Castro Laurenziano 7, 00161, Rome, Italy
Interests: functional polymeric materials and composites; carbon-based sensors; hydrogel materials; biomedical applications; UV radiation monitoring; radiation shielding materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Advanced polymer materials and polymer-based composites are of great interest for the aeronautics and space fields due to their tremendous technological potential across numerous applications. These materials offer the exciting prospect of creating novel components and structures with tailor-made properties and multifunctionality that exceed the capabilities of existing materials.

This Special Issue on "Advanced Polymer Materials and Composites: Manufacturing, Properties, and Applications in the Aerospace Field" aims to collect recent studies on cutting-edge research with implications for the aerospace industry. In particular, this issue focuses on the rapidly evolving field of polymer materials and polymer-based composites, including nanocomposites, which hold significant promise for diverse applications in aeronautics and space exploration.

Specific areas of interest include recent advancements and breakthroughs in manufacturing processes for aeronautical and space structures, the development of lightweight and durable components with tailored properties, and the sustainable fabrication of polymer-based materials and composites. Research adopting a multidisciplinary approach, tackling challenges associated with harsh environments, fatigue, damage tolerance, and other operational aspects is also encouraged.

This Special Issue provides a platform for experts in the aerospace materials field to share their latest findings and innovations. By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, the issue aims to drive progress in aerospace technologies and applications.

Prof. Dr. Susanna Laurenzi
Dr. Elisa Toto
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • processing of advanced polymers, composites, and nanocomposites
  • multifunctional polymer-based materials
  • sustainable fabrication routes
  • innovative applications in aviation and space exploration
  • fatigue, damage mechanisms and durability
  • radiation shielding
  • operation in harsh environments
  • design, simulation, and modeling

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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22 pages, 8841 KiB  
Article
Fused Filament Fabrication of Polyethylene/Graphene Composites for In-Space Manufacturing
by Susanna Laurenzi, Federica Zaccardi, Elisa Toto, Maria Gabriella Santonicola, Sabina Botti and Tanya Scalia
Materials 2024, 17(8), 1888; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17081888 - 19 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1160
Abstract
Graphene-based composite materials are highly sought after for space applications due to their ability to encompass various properties, such as electrical conductivity, thermal resistance, and radiation shielding. This versatility allows for the creation of multifunctional components that can serve various purposes in space. [...] Read more.
Graphene-based composite materials are highly sought after for space applications due to their ability to encompass various properties, such as electrical conductivity, thermal resistance, and radiation shielding. This versatility allows for the creation of multifunctional components that can serve various purposes in space. Three-dimensional (3D) printing of composite materials in space offers a versatile and efficient means of manufacturing components, tools, and structures that are tailored to the unique challenges and requirements of space missions. In this work, we aim to develop 3D-printed composites made of medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) matrix and exfoliated graphene nanoplatelets (xGnP) as filler, using fused filament fabrication (FFF). Our research focuses on the challenges associated with the FFF process for fabricating MDPE/xGnP materials, particularly by optimizing filament extrusion and assessing the resulting material properties and space environmental compatibility. Firstly, we optimize the extrusion process, and use the MDPE/xGnP filaments to fabricate 3D-printed samples after defining the FFF parameters. We employ differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to assess the melting properties and crystallization degree of the extruded filaments and 3D-printed samples, providing insights into the relationship between these properties and the characteristics of the initial powders. Electrical and tensile tests are carried out to evaluate the material properties after successfully mitigating challenges, such as warping and inadequate adhesion, to build plates during the printing process. Finally, we subject the 3D-printed composites to outgassing tests under exposure to the AM0 solar spectrum to evaluate their space environmental suitability. The results of this work demonstrate the capability of the FFF-based process to efficiently manufacture components made of MDPE/xGnP composites, providing optimized parameters for their potential in-space fabrication. Full article
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