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Ground-Based Space Radiation Effects Studies on Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Materials

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

R. Wilkins ,
M. X. Pulikkathara ,
Valery N. Khabashesku ,
E. V. Barrera ,
Ranji K. Vaidyanathan  and
S. A. Thibeault
R. Wilkins
Affiliation:
NASA Center for Applied Radiation Research and the Department of Electrical Engineering, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA
M. X. Pulikkathara
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
Valery N. Khabashesku
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
E. V. Barrera
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
Ranji K. Vaidyanathan
Affiliation:
Advanced Ceramics Research, E. Hemisphere Loop, Tucson, AZ 85706, USA
S. A. Thibeault
Affiliation:
NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681–2199, USA
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Abstract

Materials based on carbon nanotubes hold great promise for a variety of applications relevant to space exploration and the aerospace industry. Materials used for these applications will be subject to hostile environments including increased levels of high-energy particulate radiation. The type, energy range and fluence of the radiation will depend on the environment of the space mission. While it is not feasible to conduct an exhaustive study of the effects of space radiation on the earth's surface, ground-based experiments can be designed to simulate expected radiation environments using sources representing components of the relevant radiation environments. In this paper we present a compilation of results on materials based on singlewalled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) emphasizing nano-composites with raw (non-functionalized) and with 2–5% functionalized SWNTs in a polyethylene matrix. Materials such as these are promising candidates for multi-functional materials with good structural and radiation shielding characteristics. The radiation sources discussed here are relevant to the upper atmosphere (high energy neutrons), low earth orbit (medium energy protons) and interplanetary space (high energy protons and heavy ions). The samples are characterized before and after radiation with Raman spectroscopy which gives information on the structure of the SWNT and state of sidewall functionalization. Based on results from the SWNT papers (“buckypapers”) and the composites made from functionalized and non-functionalized SWNT, our data indicates that structural integrity and any sidewall functionalization of the SWNT in the nano-composite are radiation tolerant to radiation fluences commensurate with expected exposures on long-term spaceflight. More importantly, we find that the chemistry and material science of the processes used to produce the pristine and functionalized SWNT can affect the radiation characteristics of the nano-composites.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 851: Symposium NN – Materials for Space Applications , 2004 , NN6.5
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2005

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