Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #30773: PEEK and PFA in Orbit: Evaluating Space-Grade Plastics on the ISS

PEEK (Polyetheretherketone) and PFA (Perfluoroalkoxy) are advanced plastics known for their high thermal and chemical resistance. JAXA’s Hidenori Furuta led a multi-expedition study aboard the ISS to evaluate how these materials withstand prolonged exposure to the space environment. Partnering with Junkosha Inc., this project placed material samples on the Japanese Experiment Module’s Exposed Facility.

Space degrades materials faster than Earth environments. This test measured how radiation, thermal cycling, and vacuum conditions affect plastic properties like strength, flexibility, and surface integrity. Understanding this behavior is essential for designing future spacecraft components, insulating materials, and structural elements.

The findings are invaluable for aerospace engineers, providing data to support the selection of polymers in mission-critical designs. As humanity prepares for longer-term habitation in orbit and beyond, materials like PEEK and PFA could become vital to mission durability and safety.

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