Investigation on The Radiation Shielding Characteristics of Nanocomposite Material for Space Applications
Paper ID : 1169-ICRSSSA
Authors
Nourhan Hesham *
Faculty of science ain shams University
Abstract
The exposure to high-energy Galactic Cosmic Radiation (GCR) is one of the major barriers to the advancement of manned space missions. GCR is an incident that occurs outside the solar system and is among the highest energy events observed by man. Neutrons are induced as secondary particles when the GCR and SPE interact with the structures of the spacecraft. The neutrons' penetration of electronic satellite components may cause degradation in their performance.
In space, there is also the need for a very lightweight material capable of surviving an extreme radiation environment and withstanding mechanical loading.
High-Z materials provide stronger gamma shielding due to their higher photon interaction probability. Lead, copper, and other high-Z materials have been used as radiation shields. Traditional shielding materials are expensive, heavy, and harmful. New radiation shielding materials that suppress gamma rays and neutrons while minimising classic shielding materials' drawbacks are in demand. High-Z nano- and micro-materials distributed in polymer matrices have exhibited improved radiation absorption and attenuation.
Polymeric materials could play a significant role as multifunctional radiation-shielding materials in space. Nano-polymeric materials may provide solutions that will enable the satellite designers to mitigate the threat from harsh space radiation.
In this study, the gamma-ray shielding performance of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composites implanted with 0.001–0.3 wt% for Bi2O3, MoO2, WO3, and MCNT was evaluated. Co-60 gamma sources were used to study the mass attenuation coefficient and the half-value layer. The mass attenuation coefficient of the PMMA samples was better than that of pure PMMA.
Keywords
Radiation Shielding, Nanocomposite, PMMA
Status: Accepted (Poster Presentation)