Speaker
Description
This work will target the current challenges of radiation shielding in space through the lens of modern materials science, focusing on the development and optimization of novel shielding materials. We will examine innovative solutions such as tungsten composites, tungsten-based nonporous structures, advanced aluminium alloys, and high-temperature ceramics as potential shielding materials candidates. These are to be designed to offer multipurpose shielding capabilities, providing robust protection against both electromagnetic radiation and energetic particle irradiation. The integration of electromagnetic and particle radiation transport codes (such as MCNP, EVENT, SERPENT, etc.) with various material design criteria and shielding strategies remains an unresolved issue that needs to be addressed considering the irradiation environment of the space. Such a unified approach not only underscores the potential of new materials but also aims to enhance safety and functionality for space missions, including the protection of human crews. By integrating these advancements, the presentation sets the stage for significant breakthroughs in applying materials science to space exploration, paralleling our existing efforts to design new materials for shielding and structural components in Earth-based Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) [1], but that also find applicability in Micro-Reactors (MRs) [2–4] for space applications.
References
[1] Tunes, M. A., de Oliveira, C. R. E. & Schön, C. G. Multi-objective optimization of a compact pressurized water nuclear reactor computational model for biological shielding design using innovative materials. Nuclear Engineering and Design 313, 20–28 (2017).
[2] Parkison, D., Tunes, M.A. et al. Fabrication of bulk delta-phase Zirconium Hydride from Zircaloy-4 for use as moderators in microreactors. Scr Mater 239, 115771 (2024).
[3] Tunes, M. A. et al. Challenges in Developing Materials for Microreactors: A Case-Study of Yttrium Dihydride in Extreme Conditions. SSRN Preprint 4652643 (2024) doi:10.2139/SSRN.4652643.
[4] Tunes, M. A., Stemper, L., Greaves, G., Uggowitzer, P. J. & Pogatscher, S. Prototypic Lightweight Alloy Design for Stellar‐Radiation Environments. Advanced Science 7, 2002397 (2020).
