3D printed titanium dioxide foams under extreme environment exposure at low-Earth orbit

The proposed project will combine research in materials science and physics of liquid foams with 3-D printing to further advance robotic printing of titanium dioxide (TiO2) foams and understand their degradation behavior upon exposure to the space environment Low Earth Orbit (LEO). These printed foams exhibit great potential for space applications ranging from efficient solar cells to batteries and radiation shielding. The proposed experimental work will be accomplished by using the MISSE–FF platform at the ISS to expose the Earth-printed foam samples at LEO conditions. Potential degradation mechanisms will be investigated, upon return to Earth, using a suite of characterization methods. These degradation data for the 3-D printed specimens will give significant early insight into the applicability of our TiO2 foam materials for the identified potential space applications before going forward and exploring their printing characteristics under microgravity conditions. During this project, further collaborations with NASA (both locally and Nationwide), and UTV will be fostered. Also, a graduate research student will be trained for years 1 and 3 of this project. At the end of the proposed work it is expected that an advanced understanding about TiO2 foam degradation mechanisms at LEO will be attained. We expect to attain insights about potential erosion mechanisms of the organic components of the foams due to high atomic oxygen flux. Also, the role of carbon-based materials such as graphene and CNT’s will be investigated in terms of strengthening the printed structures.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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