Nanotechnology will play an important role in future space missions. Nanosensors, dramatically improved high-performance materials, or highly efficient propulsion systems are but a few examples. Propulsion Technology, harden electronic components and radiation shielding are the areas where nanotechnology could make a major contribution to human space flight. According to NASA, the risks of exposure to space radiation are the most significant factor limiting humans’ ability to participate in long-duration space missions. Therefore a lot of research has been going on developing countermeasures to protect astronauts from those risks. To meet the needs for radiation protection as well as other requirements such as low weight and structural stability, spacecraft designers are looking for materials that help them develop multifunctional spacecraft hulls. Advanced nanomaterials such as the newly developed, isotopically enriched boron nanotubes could pave the path to future spacecraft with nanosensor-integrated hulls that provide effective radiation shielding as well as energy storage.
Actually space radiation is qualitatively different from the radiation human encounters on Earth. Once astronauts leave the Earth's protective magnetic field and atmosphere, they become exposed to ionizing radiation in the form of charged atomic particles traveling at close to the speed of light. Highly charged, high-energy particles pose the greatest risk to humans in space. A long-term exposure to this radiation can lead to DNA damage and cancer. One of the shielding materials under study is boron 10.
A stable isotope, 105B (Boron), having five protons and five neutrons, that makes up about 20% of natural boron is a good absorber of slow neutrons and is used as a radiation shield. It has also been used in numerous applications such as a dopant in the semiconductor industry. Boron compounds also play important roles as light structural materials, nontoxic insecticides and preservatives, and reagents for chemical synthesis.
Compared to Carbon Nanotubes, boron nanotubes have some better properties which make them more suitable for space industry. They are having high chemical stability, high resistance to oxidation at high temperatures and also they are stable wide band-gap semiconductors. Because of these properties, they can be used for applications at high temperatures or in corrosive environments such as batteries, fuel cells, super capacitors, high-speed machines as solid lubricant.
But the major problem is that large quantity production of pure boron nanotubes requires a large quantity of this material.
Actually space radiation is qualitatively different from the radiation human encounters on Earth. Once astronauts leave the Earth's protective magnetic field and atmosphere, they become exposed to ionizing radiation in the form of charged atomic particles traveling at close to the speed of light. Highly charged, high-energy particles pose the greatest risk to humans in space. A long-term exposure to this radiation can lead to DNA damage and cancer. One of the shielding materials under study is boron 10.
A stable isotope, 105B (Boron), having five protons and five neutrons, that makes up about 20% of natural boron is a good absorber of slow neutrons and is used as a radiation shield. It has also been used in numerous applications such as a dopant in the semiconductor industry. Boron compounds also play important roles as light structural materials, nontoxic insecticides and preservatives, and reagents for chemical synthesis.
Compared to Carbon Nanotubes, boron nanotubes have some better properties which make them more suitable for space industry. They are having high chemical stability, high resistance to oxidation at high temperatures and also they are stable wide band-gap semiconductors. Because of these properties, they can be used for applications at high temperatures or in corrosive environments such as batteries, fuel cells, super capacitors, high-speed machines as solid lubricant.
But the major problem is that large quantity production of pure boron nanotubes requires a large quantity of this material.
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