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Nanomaterials for radiation shielding

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 October 2015

Sheila A. Thibeault
Affiliation:
Advanced Materials and Processing Branch, NASA Langley Research Center, USA; [email protected]
Jin Ho Kang
Affiliation:
National Institute of Aerospace, USA; [email protected]
Godfrey Sauti
Affiliation:
National Institute of Aerospace, USA; [email protected]
Cheol Park
Affiliation:
Advanced Materials and Processing Branch, NASA Langley Research Center, USA; [email protected]
Catharine C. Fay
Affiliation:
NASA Langley Research Center, USA; [email protected]
Glen C. King
Affiliation:
Advanced Materials and Processing Branch, NASA Langley Research Center, USA; [email protected]
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Abstract

This article reviews the application of nanomaterials for radiation shielding to protect humans from the hazards of radiation in space. The focus is on protection from space radiation, including galactic cosmic radiation (GCR), solar particle events (SPEs), and neutrons generated from the interactions of the GCR and SPEs with the intervening matter. Although the emphasis is on protecting humans, protection of electronics is also considered. There is a significant amount of work in the literature on materials for radiation shielding in terrestrial applications, such as for neutrons from nuclear reactors; however, the space environment poses additional and greater challenges because the incident particles can have high charges and extremely high energies. For materials to be considered for radiation shielding in space, they should perform more than just the radiation-shielding function; hence the emphasis is on multifunctional materials. In space, there is also the need for materials to be very lightweight and capable of surviving temperature extremes and withstanding mechanical loading. Nanomaterials could play a significant role as multifunctional radiation-shielding materials in space.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2015 

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