This paper focuses on the behavior of polymer based carbon nanotube composites in the harshconditions of the space environment with emphasis on Earth Orbit environmental features. Thereduced weight, outstanding mechanical properties, and enhanced thermal characteristics of thesenanocomposites are extremely attractive for space applications. The possibility to addmultifunctional features such as thermal conductivity and/or electrical conductivity justifies theefforts to utilize such nanocomposites in space environments. Existing literature on polymercarbonnanotubes composites - relevant to potential applications in an Earth Orbit environment -is critically reviewed in connection with recent spectroscopic data on polyethylene andpolystyrene filled with carbon nanotubes. The analysis concludes that important modificationsinduced by ionizing radiation have been observed by spectroscopic techniques. However,existing data are not yet sufficiently coherent to allow for a definite conclusion regarding thelifetime of such nanocomposites in the space environment and in particular in the Earth Orbitenvironment.
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