Radiation effects on composite materials used in space systems: a review

Nanomaterials for Potential Uses in Extraterrestrial Environments

Over the past decades, the development of nanomaterials has played an important role in the most intriguing aspects of new technologies in several scientific fields, such as nanoelectronics, nanomedicine [...].

Recent Advances and Challenges in Polymer-Based Materials for Space Radiation Shielding

Space exploration requires the use of suitable materials to protect astronauts and structures from the hazardous effects of radiation, in particular, ionizing radiation, which is ubiquitous in the hostile space environment. In this scenario, polymer-based materials and composites play a crucial role in achieving effective radiation shielding while providing low-weight and tailored mechanical properties to spacecraft components. This work provides an overview of the latest developments and challenges in polymer-based materials designed for radiation-shielding applications in space. Recent advances in terms of both experimental and numerical studies are discussed. Different approaches to enhancing the radiation-shielding performance are reported, such as integrating various types of nanofillers within polymer matrices and optimizing the materials design. Furthermore, this review explores the challenges in developing multifunctional materials that are able to provide radiation protection. By summarizing the state-of-the-art research and identifying emerging trends, this review aims to contribute to the ongoing efforts to identify polymer materials and composites that are most useful to protect human health and spacecraft performance in the harsh radiation conditions that are typically found during missions in space.

Study of the Influence of the Irradiation Flux Density on the Formation of a Defect Structure in AlN in the Case of the Effect of Overlapping of the Heavy Ion Motion Trajectories in the Near-Surface Layer

The aim of this paper is to test the previously stated hypothesis and several experimental facts about the effect of the ion flux or ion beam current under irradiation with heavy ions on the radiation damage formation in the ceramic near-surface layer and their concentration. The hypothesis is that, when considering the possibilities of using ion irradiation (usually with heavy ions) for radiation damage simulation at a given depth, comparable to neutron irradiation, it is necessary to consider the rate factor for the set of atomic displacements and their accumulation. Using the methods of X-ray diffraction analysis, Raman and UV-Vis spectroscopy, alongside photoluminescence, the mechanisms of defect formation in the damaged layer were studied by varying the current of the Xe23+ ion beam with an energy of 230 MeV. As a result of the experimental data obtained, it was found that, with the ion beam current elevation upon the irradiation of nitride ceramics (AlN) with heavy Xe23+ ions, structural changes have a pronounced dependence on the damage accumulation rate. At the same time, the variation of the ion beam current affects the main mechanisms of defect formation in the near-surface layer. It has been found that at high values of flux ions, the dominant mechanism in damage to the surface layer is the mechanism of the formation of vacancy defects associated with the replacement of nitrogen atoms by oxygen atoms, as well as the formation of ON-VAl complexes.

Study of the Kinetics of Radiation Damage in CeO2 Ceramics upon Irradiation with Heavy Ions

In this work, the effect of irradiation with heavy Kr¹⁵⁺ and Xe²²⁺ ions on the change in the structural and strength properties of CeO₂ microstructural ceramics, which is one of the candidates for inert matrix materials for dispersed nuclear fuel, is considered. Irradiation with heavy Kr¹⁵⁺ and Xe²²⁺ ions was chosen to determine the possibility of simulation of radiation damage comparable to the action of fission fragments, as well as neutron radiation, considering damage accumulation at a given depth of the near-surface layer. During the research, it was found that the main changes in the structural properties with an increase in the irradiation fluence are associated with the crystal lattice deformation distortions and the consequent radiation damage accumulation in the surface layer, and its swelling. Evaluation of the effect of gaseous swelling caused by the radiation damage accumulation showed that a variation in the ion type during irradiation results in a growth in the value of swelling and destruction of the near-surface layer with the accumulation of deformation distortions. Results of the strength variation demonstrated that the most intense decrease in the near-surface layer hardness is observed when the fluence reaches more than 10¹³-10¹⁴ ion/cm², which is typical for the effect of overlapping radiation damage in the material.