Authors:

Kailyn D Steed

Date Created:

Not specified

Course Title:

Professor:

Not specified

About Paper:

Personnel and sensitive electronics can suffer adverse side effects in high radiation environments, such as outer space or nuclear reactors. Shielding may be used to reduce radiation exposure; however, the presence of multiple types of radiation complicates the design requirement. Neutrons, which have mass and no charge, are most effectively shielded by materials with similar mass (e.g., hydrogen), while gammas, which are highly energetic with no rest mass, are most effectively shielded by materials with high atomic number. Thus, a single material cannot effectively shield both types of radiation, necessitating additional cost or space. This project studies the feasibility of using composites made by using layers or mixtures of multiple materials, to simultaneously shield neutrons and gammas. Designing composites and evaluating their ability to shield gamma and neutron sources will help determine the optimal shielding materials to ensure the safe operation of electronics while minimizing additional weight and space, which is paramount for both space propulsion and nuclear reactor development. Keywords: Radiation Shielding; Composite Materials; Gamma Rays; Neutrons; Layering Powder

Source:

Purdue University / 2024

Topics:

No topics listed

Co-authors:

Kailyn D Steed