Incorporating Self-healing Materials into Lightweight, Inflatable Structures for Deep Space Habitats

Typical inflatable structures consist of a bladder, restraint, and a thermal and micrometeoroid protection layer (TML). The bladder is the innermost layer and is used for pressure containment of the gas or fluid in the system and is typically a polymer coated fabric or a durable film. Although the bladder is protected from direct penetration by external debris because of the level of shielding in the TML from external threats, the bladder is vulnerable to pin holes and microcracking incurred during fabrication, packing, deployment as well as low-velocity puncture from tools and/or astronaut/crew impacts.
In recent years, we have studied puncture healing and on-demand healing materials. [2-6] The proposed work plan is: (1). Create a test matrix of self-healing material systems that meet the system requirements. (2). Develop test methods that mimic the conditions which cause damage during fabrication, packaging, and launch and deployment in deployable structures. (3) Fabricate specimens for testing. (4) Carryout bench top scale tests that investigate the incorporation of the self-healing materials with other components of the habitat skin structure (5). Mechanical and thermal testing will be conducted in house. (6). Downselect of most promising on-demand healing materials. (7). Future funding will be used to test most promising materials for more extensive evaluation of radiation resistance.

NASA's Artemis mission includes plans for a sustained human presence on the Lunar Surface. Deployable inflatable structures are envisioned to be part of the mission architecture. They offer high packing efficiency as well as reduced mass and launch costs. They are a way for providing expandable working volume in habitats and airlocks. [1] However, they are susceptible to defects in the form of pinholes, microcracks, cuts and other forms of damage incurred during fabrication, packing, and the deployment process. Potential solutions to mitigate these risks include the use of lightweight, flexible polymeric self-healing materials as part of the structures. The goal of this proposed work is to evaluate the incorporation of candidate self-healing materials in deployable inflatable habitat concepts for improved safety and reliability.

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