Radiation-induced degradation in the properties of pristine anddouble-walled carbon nanotube-enhancedpoly (2,5-benzimidazole) polymers for radiation shielding in the LEO
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Date
2025-09-01
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Elsevier
Abstract
Degradation in the properties of polymer-based materials in space environments is a critical challenge for developing lightweight radiation shielding solutions. In this paper, a comparative study of the impacts of helium ion (He+) irradiation one of the ion species in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) environment on the structural and optical properties of pristine and 1.0 wt% double-walled carbon nanotube (DWCNT)-enhanced poly(2,5-benzimidazole) (ABPBI) polymers for LEO radiation shielding applications was conducted. The two polymer categories were separately chemically prepared in the laboratory, moulded, dried, and cut into 1 cm × 1 cm pieces, and bombarded with 0.35 MeV He+ ions at varying fluences. The Ultraviolet–Visible-Near-Infrared (UV–Vis-NIR) optical analyses of the polymers following the ion bombardment revealed that He+ irradiation considerably raises the Urbach energy and decreases the optical bandgap, indicating a rise in electronic defects and structural disorder. On the other hand, the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analyses revealed higher levels of structural degradation in the pristine ABPBI samples, suggesting changes brought about by irradiation-induced oxidation and chain scission processes. In contrast, the 1.0 wt% DWCNT-ABPBI composite demonstrated improved optical and structural integrity, retention, and resistance to He+ ion-induced damage. According to the results, 1.0 wt% DWCNT reinforcement reduces radiation-induced deterioration and offers more protection from energetic ion exposure in the LEO settings. Thus, this work highlights the distinct impact of He+ ion interactions with ABPBI and the effectiveness of DWCNT inclusion in improving polymer resilience, and it contributes to the fundamental understanding of the polymer composite for radiation shielding applications.
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Keywords
Structural properties, Poly - 2, 5-benzimidazole, Optical properties, Low Earth Orbit, Radiation-shielding polymers, Polymer degradation
Citation
Oryema, B., Square, L., & Ellis, E. (2025). Radiation-induced degradation in the properties of pristine anddouble-walled carbon nanotube-enhancedpoly (2,5-benzimidazole) polymers for radiation shielding in the LEO. Advances in Space Research, 76(9): 5406-5418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2025.08.065