Design of Innovative High-Performance Polymer for Passive Lunar Dust Mitigation

Abstract Dust in space environments is now recognized as a major concern for successful manned and robotic exploration colonization missions. Indeed, thin layer of dust covers the lunar surface made loose granular material, consisting broad range shapes, sizes, types sediments, which mainly consists silicate minerals form micrometric, sharp, abrasive, porous, chemically reactive particles. The aim this paper to present preliminary results related design development an innovative, lightweight, high-performance polymer with elevated strength-to-weight ratio able mitigate particle contamination. In detail, mitigation or minimization energy consequently adhesion forces among external layers micrometric particles can be achieved through modifications properties by means both chemical physical methodologies. proposed approach, realize innovative material not hydrophobic coating, potentially applicable wide technological conditions it relies on reproducible controllable material’s synthesis suitable base materials i.e., aromatic polyimides copolyimides incorporation special low molecular weight additives, migrating agents, loaded directly within reacting mixture during intermediate phases copolymerization. investigated work exhibit mechanical withstand extreme environment non-sticking behaviour its contact granular, regolith abhesion capacity.