{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,20]],"date-time":"2026-07-20T15:30:27Z","timestamp":1784561427377,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,7]],"date-time":"2026-01-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1767744000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Key Research and Development Program of Heilongjiang Province","award":["2023ZX07D03"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2023ZX07D03"]}]},{"name":"National Key Research and Development Program of China","award":["2025YFE0115100"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2025YFE0115100"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Polymers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The increasing threat posed by micrometeoroids and orbital debris to in-orbit spacecraft necessitates the development of lightweight and deformable shielding systems capable of withstanding hypervelocity impacts. Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) films, owing to their high specific strength and energy-absorption capacity, present a promising candidate for such applications. However, the hypervelocity impact response of thin, highly oriented UHMWPE films\u2014distinct from bulk plates or composites\u2014remains poorly understood, particularly for micron-scale particles at velocities relevant to space debris (\u22658 km\/s). In this study, we systematically investigate the impact resistance of 0.1 mm UHMWPE films using a plasma-driven microparticle accelerator and a hypervelocity dust gun to simulate impacts by micron-sized Al2O3 and Fe particles at velocities up to ~8.5 km\/s. Through detailed analysis of crater morphology via scanning electron microscopy, we identify three distinct damage modes: plastic-dominated craters (Type I), fracture-melting craters (Type II), and perforations (Type III). These modes are correlated with impact energy and particle size, revealing the material\u2019s transition from large-scale plastic deformation to localized thermal softening and eventual penetration. Crucially, we provide quantitative penetration thresholds (e.g., 2.25 \u03bcm Al2O3 at 8.5 km\/s) and establish a microstructure-informed damage classification that advances the fundamental understanding of UHMWPE film behavior under extreme strain rates. Our findings not only elucidate the energy-dissipation mechanisms in oriented polymer films but also offer practical guidelines for the design of next-generation, flexible spacecraft shielding systems.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/polym18020161","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,7]],"date-time":"2026-01-07T11:46:43Z","timestamp":1767786403000},"page":"161","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Experimental Study on the Impact Resistance of UHMWPE Flexible Film Against Hypervelocity Particles"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"given":"Chen","family":"Liu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Physics, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhirui","family":"Rao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Physics, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4195-0240","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hao","family":"Liu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi\u2019an Jiaotong University, Xi\u2019an 710049, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-4740-2679","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Changlin","family":"Zhao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yifan","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering Technologies, Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow 105005, Russia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Aleksey","family":"Khaziev","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Materials Technologies, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow 121205, Russia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"404","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actaastro.2024.07.019","article-title":"A review of shielding systems for protecting off-earth structures from micrometeoroid and orbital debris impact","volume":"223","author":"Rakib","year":"2024","journal-title":"Acta Astronaut."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1007\/s40870-021-00314-7","article-title":"Advances in the whipple shield design and development: A brief review","volume":"8","author":"Pai","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. 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