INNOVATIVE MATERIALS AND PHENOMENA FOR SPACE

Materials play a key role in space missions. In the space environment, temperature can vary from tens of degrees below zero to thermal peaks of even thousands of degrees during the re-entry into the atmosphere of spacecraft. In this context, materials must also exhibit such peculiarities as low weight, resistance to mechanical stress, as well as to the corrosive space environment. In this field ICMATE deals with designing materials with listing features, but also processes suitable for space exploration for allowing sustainable life on the lunar soil (ISRU-In situ resource utilization), also through studies and experimental observations on the materials behaviour in molten state under microgravity conditions and absence of oxygen (via ISS/Parabolic flights).

Lines of activity:

• Design and fabrication of UHT materials for space environments

• Thermophysical properties of advanced metal materials

• Porous materials based on Titania

• Production of porous and composite materials based on planetary regoliths

• Production of cryogenic alloys with shape memory

• ISS experiments and parabolic flights