ITALIAN-FOAM (I-FOAM)
Research Area: Materials Science
Expedition(s): 27/28
Principal Investigator(s): ● Loredana Santo, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome,
Italy
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The Italian-Foam (I-FOAM) experiment will evaluate the recovery of shape memory epoxy foam
in microgravity obtained by solid-state foaming on ground consisting of various geometric
complexities shaped on ground. This investigation is expected to study the shape memory
properties required to manufacture a new concept actuator (a device that transforms energy to
other forms of energy).
EARTH BENEFITS
Italian-Foam can be used as energy absorbers (panels and bumpers) and self
expandable/deployable structures. Forms of foam are widely used in medical bedding and
seating applications because of its unique attributes which can help aid comfort and sleep.
SPACE BENEFITS
Italian-Foam can be used in the aerospace industry for different applications from light
actuators to structural parts with reduced size during shipping. This type of foam may be very
useful as a material utilized for building future spacecrafts for long-term space flight missions.
RESULTS
Experimental results aboard the International Space Station (ISS), along with results obtained
on the ground, highlight the complexity in developing foams in microgravity for structural
actuators. Foam heating system can behave very differently in space and heat fluctuation is
greatly amplified
by microgravity.
In future
experiments, the
maximum
temperature will
increase (at least
up to 120°C) if a
heating plate
will be used
again. In the
current
experiment the
maximum
temperature
was strongly
reduced for
Comparison of foam shape recovery in the International Space Station (ISS) experiment after
the torsion test to the ground experiment (series of video captured images) that clearly show
the same results have been obtained in the ground and ISS experiments. University of Rome
Tor Vergata images.