In the defence materials sector, claims are abundant but validation is rare. Dr BEL's materials have achieved what most deep-tech founders only promise: 13 months of continuous operation in Low Earth Orbit at the outer zone of the Van Allen Belts—the most hostile radiation environment accessible to human engineering.
Space hardware validation represents the ultimate de-risking signal. Materials must survive launch vibration (up to 14g), vacuum outgassing, thermal cycling (-150°C to +120°C), atomic oxygen fluence, ultraviolet degradation, and continuous cosmic radiation flux. There is no terrestrial simulation that replicates this combination of environmental stresses.
The ISS/JAXA-Kibo experiment validates not just material performance under radiation but manufacturing consistency, formulation stability, and structural integrity under operational conditions. Materials that return functional from space have proven qualification credentials impossible to replicate in any ground-based laboratory.
Experiment Configuration
| Platform | International Space Station (ISS) |
|---|---|
| Module | Kibo Japanese Experiment Module |
| Facility | Exposed Facility (JEM-EF) |
| Hardware | Exposed Experiment Handrail Attachment Mechanism (ExHAM) |
| Experiment ID | 8071 |
| Exposure Duration | 13 months (November 2018 – December 2019) |
| Orbital Altitude | ~400 km (Low Earth Orbit) |
| Radiation Environment | Van Allen Belt outer zone, South Atlantic Anomaly traversal |
Material System
Primary Material: PMMA/Colemanite (Ca2B6O11·5H2O) nanocomposite
Architecture: Boron-oxide nanoparticle reinforced polymer matrix
Function: Radiation shielding through neutron thermalization and gamma attenuation via high boron cross-section
Environmental Exposure
- Vacuum: <10⁻⁶ Torr continuous
- Thermal Cycling: -150°C to +120°C (90-minute orbital period)
- Atomic Oxygen Fluence: ~2×10²⁰ atoms/cm² (equivalent to 1+ year LEO)
- Cosmic Radiation: Van Allen Belt protons, galactic cosmic rays, solar particle events
- UV Radiation: Unfiltered solar UV including vacuum UV <200nm
Validated Performance Results
| Performance Metric | Validated Result |
|---|---|
| Gamma Ray Shielding Improvement | 11.1% improvement versus baseline PMMA |
| Neutron Shielding Enhancement | 38.56% enhancement versus baseline PMMA |
| Beta Attenuation Performance | Validated in Van Allen Belt proton/electron environment |
| Material Structural Integrity | Maintained through 13-month exposure—no delamination, cracking, or significant mass loss |
| Optical Property Retention | Transmittance characteristics preserved post-exposure |
| Atomic Oxygen Resistance | Surface recession within acceptable parameters for LEO mission duration |
Technical Significance
The 38.56% neutron shielding enhancement is particularly significant for space applications. Neutron radiation—primarily from galactic cosmic ray interactions with spacecraft structures—represents the most challenging shielding problem in human spaceflight. Boron-10's high neutron capture cross-section (3,840 barns for thermal neutrons) enables effective thermalization and absorption without the mass penalty of traditional polyethylene moderators.
The 11.1% gamma ray improvement demonstrates that the colemanite nanoparticle dispersion enhances rather than compromises the matrix's photon attenuation characteristics—a critical validation point for multi-radiation environment applications.
The Space Environment Challenge
Space qualification represents the gold standard in materials validation
Radiation Environment
The ISS orbits within and below the Van Allen radiation belts, experiencing continuous exposure to:
- Trapped protons (peak flux at 200-600 km)
- Trapped electrons (inner and outer belt)
- Galactic cosmic rays (heavy ions to iron)
- Solar energetic particles
- South Atlantic Anomaly traversals
Thermal Extremes
The ISS experiences 16 sunrises and sunsets per day. Materials on the exposed facility cycle between approximately -150°C (eclipse) and +120°C (direct sunlight) every 90 minutes.
This thermal cycling—over 5,000 cycles during a 13-month mission—tests material fatigue, CTE mismatch at interfaces, and structural integrity in ways impossible to replicate terrestrially.
Atomic Oxygen
Low Earth Orbit contains residual atomic oxygen at sufficient density (~10⁸ atoms/cm³ at 400 km) to cause significant surface erosion of organic materials.
Polymers that survive LEO exposure without protective coatings have inherent resistance to oxidative degradation—a valuable characteristic for long-duration applications.
Collaborating Organisations
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Role: Kibo module operations, ExHAM hardware provision, sample return logistics, experiment coordination
Contribution: Access to ISS external exposure platform, post-flight sample analysis support
Turkish Space Agency (TUA)
Role: National coordination, regulatory support, international agreement facilitation
Contribution: Government-to-government space cooperation framework enabling Turkish research access to ISS facilities
Istanbul Technical University (ITU)
Role: Academic home institution, facilities access, materials characterisation
Departments: Energy Institute, Materials Engineering
Contribution: Pre-flight preparation, post-flight radiation characterisation, thesis supervision
Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (Malaysia)
Role: International research collaboration
Contribution: Vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) for magnetic characterisation, Raman spectroscopy for molecular structure analysis
APRSAF-26 International Presentation
Dr Tayfun BEL presented "Turkish Experience of ISS-KIBO" at the 26th Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-26), Space Environment Utilization Working Group, Nagoya Convention Hall, Japan, 26 November 2019.
The session placed Dr BEL alongside delegates from:
Japan
USA
Republic of Korea
Thailand
Indonesia
Turkey
From Space Heritage to Defence Products
Materials science insights validated through ISS directly inform Belvyon's commercial products
VELON-G Smart Material Canopy
Polymer matrix stability under radiation and thermal cycling validated through ISS heritage. The same PMMA-based architecture—now enhanced with graphene-ITO metamaterial inclusions—demonstrates confidence in long-duration operational survivability for fighter canopy applications.
Learn MoreSYNAPLEX Neuromorphic Substrate
Radiation tolerance foundations established through colemanite nanocomposite validation. SYNAPLEX's fluoropolymer architecture inherits design principles from space-qualified polymer formulations, targeting >500 kGy total dose tolerance for space-based AI applications.
Learn MoreTOPSPOT Ballistic Armour
Polymer-ceramic interface engineering principles from radiation shielding composites applied to ballistic protection. The FGM (Functionally Graded Material) architecture benefits from matrix formulation expertise developed through ISS material system optimization.
Learn MorePeer-Reviewed Publications
Primary Publication
Bel, T., Mehranpour, S., Sengul, A.V., Camtakan, Z., Baydogan, N. "Electron beam penetration of poly (methyl methacrylate)/colemanite composite irradiated at low earth orbit space radiation environment." Wiley Journal — ISS/JAXA-Kibo ExHAM experiment results.
Related Publications
[1] Bel, T., Arslan, C., Baydogan, N. "Radiation Shielding Properties of Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) / Colemanite Composite for the use in Mixed Irradiation Fields of Neutrons and Gamma Rays." Materials Chemistry and Physics (SCI), DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2018.09.014, September 2018.
[2] Bel, T., Cakar, H., Yahya, N., Arslan, C., Baydogan, N. "Investigation of the Bubble Effect in Lightweight PMMA Polymer." Defect and Diffusion Forum, Vol. 380, pp. 227-231, 2017.
[3] Bel, T., Baydogan, N., Cimenoglu, H. "Chapter 18: Effect of Curing Time on Poly(methacrylate) Living Polymer." Energy Systems and Management, Springer, 2015, pp. 193-198.