Atomic Number (Z)-Grade Radiation Shields from Fiber Metal Laminates

This technology is a flexible, lighter weight radiation shield made from hybrid carbon/metal fabric and based on the Z-grading method of layering metal materials of differing atomic numbers to provide radiation protection for protons, electrons, and x-rays. To create this material, a high density metal is plasma spray-coated to carbon fiber. Another metal with less density is then plasma spray-coated, followed by another, and so on, until the material with the appropriate shielding properties is formed. Resins can be added to the material to provide structural adhesion, reducing the need for mechanical bonding. This material is amenable to molding and could be used to build custom radiation shielding to protect cabling and electronics in situations where traditional metal shielding is difficult to place. NASA Langley Research Center has developed a shapeable radiation shield made from fiber metal laminates. The technology was developed based on a need for better performing shielding of sensitive spacecraft electronics. Beyond spacecraft electronics, the invention has uses for radiation protective clothing, radioactive fluid piping shields, nuclear reactor shields, and other applications.