Project description
Durable protective coatings for spacecraft in extreme orbital environments
Spacecraft operating in low Earth orbit are exposed to an extreme combination of radiation, atomic oxygen, thermal cycling and corrosive environments that steadily degrade conventional protective materials. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the PROTEUS project is developing a new protective coating for spacecraft. Specifically, it is a triple-layer coating combining N-heterocyclic carbene, a polymer layer and an outer silane layer to improve adhesion, flexibility and long-term protection of aluminium and titanium components, overcoming the brittleness and micro-cracking of current coatings. The material will be tested under standardised European Space Agency conditions for corrosion resistance, thermal cycling and environmental exposure.
Objective
Spacecraft metals face critical corrosion challenges from cosmic rays, atomic oxygen , and extreme temperature cycling in low Earth orbit, while exposure to salt in the atmosphere is an emerging threat as we move further into reusable crafts. Current protective coatings become brittle and lose adhesion creating micro-cracks that allow corrosive agents to degrade the underlying metal. PROTEUS (PROtective TEchnology for Unified Surfaces) addresses this challenge by developing a new coating made of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC), with a polymer and a silane outer layer to protect aluminium and titanium components increasing their longevity. This triple layer molecular tool will be tested against current coatings for superior adhesion and flexibility while achieving greater than 80% surface coverage. The coating’s performance will be validated against electrochemical corrosion, atomic oxygen exposure, thermal cycling, and saltwater immersion by using ECSS, the European aerospace standards. Research will unravel at TU Delft's Aerospace Structures and Materials Laboratory under Prof. Arjan Mol's supervision, leveraging world-class space-environment simulation facilities. This interdisciplinary study integrates carbene chemistry, polymer science, materials science, and aerospace engineering. Expected outcomes include two open-access publications, conference presentations, and technology transfer activities with the European Space Agency and industry partners, as well as podcasting outreach using plain language. This project will carve a locus at the chemistry-space engineering interface, positioning me as a mobile, well-rounded researcher while contributing to Europe's sustainable technology goals and the EU Space Act objectives.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering vehicle engineering aerospace engineering astronautical engineering spacecraft
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry transition metals
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry post-transition metals
- engineering and technology materials engineering coating and films
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
2628 CN Delft
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.