Spacecraft and spacesuit shield

Abstract

A spacecraft or spacesuit that provides shielding to reduce exposure to ionizing radiation such as high energy electrons and protons. Further, methods are provided for reducing exposure through spacesuits and manufacturing spacecraft and spacesuit shields.

1 . A spacecraft or spacesuit having a radiation shield, the shield comprising a hydrogen-containing material and a polymer binder. 
     
     
         2 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material has a hydrogen content greater than 14% by weight. 
     
     
         3 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 2 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material has a hydrogen content of 17% or more by weight. 
     
     
         4 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material has a higher hydrogen content by weight than the polymer binder. 
     
     
         5 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material is an inorganic compound. 
     
     
         6 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material is a hydride. 
     
     
         7 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material comprises borane and/or a borohydride. 
     
     
         8 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 1 , wherein the shield comprises a neutron absorber element. 
     
     
         9 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 8 , wherein the neutron absorber element has a neutron absorption cross-section of at least 50 barns 
     
     
         10 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 8 , wherein the neutron absorber element has a neutron absorption cross-section of at least 500 barns. 
     
     
         11 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 8 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material comprises the neutron absorber element. 
     
     
         12 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 8 , wherein the neutron absorber element is one or more of lithium and boron. 
     
     
         13 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 12 , wherein the neutron absorber is lithium isotopically enriched with lithium-6 
     
     
         14 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 12 , wherein the neutron absorber is boron isotopically enriched with boron-10. 
     
     
         15 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer binder forms a matrix through which the hydrogen-containing material is distributed. 
     
     
         16 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer binder encapsulates the hydrogen-containing material. 
     
     
         17 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 1 , wherein the shield is formed as a bulk solid. 
     
     
         18 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 1 , wherein the shield is formed of layers or films. 
     
     
         19 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 1 , wherein the shield is formed of fibres. 
     
     
         20 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 1 , wherein the binder is a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer. 
     
     
         21 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 20 , wherein the binder is a thermoplastic polymer and is one or more of poly (methylmethacrylate), polyester, polyethylene, polybutylene, polyisobutylene, poly vinylidene fluoride, poly vinyl acetate, polybutadiene, polystyrene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polysulphone, or polypropylene. 
     
     
         22 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 20 , wherein the binder is a thermosetting polymer and is one or more of polyepoxide, polyimide, polyamide, polyaramide and melamine formaldehyde. 
     
     
         23 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is polyethylene oxide and/or polyvinyl pyrrolidone. 
     
     
         24 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a co-polymer. 
     
     
         25 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen containing material is at least one of ammonia borane, ammonium borohydride, methylammonium borohydride, lithium borohydride, an ammoniate of lithium borohydride, a methyl amine borane, ammonia triborane, ammonium octahydrotriborate, and beryllium hydride. 
     
     
         26 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material and binder form layers having a thickness less than 500 μm. 
     
     
         27 . The spacecraft or spacesuit of  claim 1 , wherein the shield is a mat of fibres. 
     
     
         28 . A material comprising a cast or sintered mixture of a polymer and a hydrogen containing material, wherein the polymer forms a matrix through which the hydrogen-containing material is distributed. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The material of  claim 28 , wherein the polymer is one or more of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyisobutylene, polybutadiene, poly (methylmethacrylate), polysulphone, polystyrene, poly (vinyl pyrrolidone), poly vinylidene fluoride, poly tetrafluoroethylene, poly ethylene oxide, poly vinyl acetate, polyester, poly (styrene-co-ethylene-ran-butadiene-styrene), polyepoxide, polyimide, polyamide, polyaramide and melamine formaldehyde, or is a copolymer thereor. 
     
     
         31 . Use of the material of  claim 28  as a radiation shield of a spacecraft, spacesuit, or lunar or planetary habitation module. 
     
     
         32 . A method of manufacturing a radiation shield for a spacecraft or spacesuit, comprising:
 mixing a hydrogen-containing material with a polymer or polymer precursor;   shaping the mixture; and   solidifying the mixture such that the polymer forms a matrix through which the hydrogen-containing material is distributed; and   incorporating the solid in a radiation shield of a spacecraft or spacesuit.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the step of mixing comprises mixing the hydrogen-containing material and polymer or polymer precursor in a liquid to form a solution and/or suspension, and the step of shaping comprises electrospinning or electrospraying the solution and/or suspension to form fibres or beads. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising heating the mixture. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the hydrogen containing material has a decomposition temperature above the melting point of the polymer, the method further comprising melting the polymer and the step of shaping comprises electrospinning or electrospraying the mixture to form fibres or beads. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the step of mixing comprises mixing the hydrogen-containing material and polymer or polymer precursor in a liquid to form a solution and/or suspension, and the step of shaping comprises casting the solution and/or suspension to a film. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising sandwiching the film between two sheets of a gas-impermeable polymer. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material has a decomposition temperature above the melting point of the polymer, the method further comprising melting the polymer and the step of shaping comprises casting the mixture in moulds or by rolling to form a sheet. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the step of mixing comprises mixing powdered hydrogen-containing material with powdered polymer, and the step of shaping comprises pressing or extruding the mixture, and further comprising sintering the mixture. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the polymer is a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising the step of adding a surfactant or dispersant prior to, or during, the step of mixing. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising adding a polymerisation catalyst prior to, or during, the step of mixing. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the mould is airtight. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the mixture in the mould is cooled. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the mixture is cooled to maintain its temperature at 50° C. or less. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the mixture is cooled to maintain its temperature at 40° C. or less. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising lining the mould with releasing agent. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material has a hydrogen content greater than 14% by weight. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material has a hydrogen content of 17% or more by weight. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material has a higher hydrogen content by weight than the polymer binder. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material is an inorganic compound. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material is a hydride. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material comprises borane and/or a borohydride. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material comprises a neutron absorber element. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the neutron absorber element is one or more of lithium and boron. 
     
     
         56 . The method of any of  claim 32 , wherein the neutron absorber is lithium-6 and/or boron-10. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein polymer is a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the polymer is one or more of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyisobutylene, polybutadiene, poly (methylmethacrylate), polysulphone, polystyrene, poly (vinyl pyrrolidone), poly vinylidene fluoride, poly tetrafluoroethylene, poly ethylene oxide, poly vinyl acetate, polyester, poly (styrene-co-ethylene-ran-butadiene-styrene), polyepoxide, polyimide, polyamide, polyaramide and melamine formaldehyde. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the polymer is a copolymer. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material is selected from ammonia borane, ammonium borohydride, methylammonium borohydride, lithium borohydride, an ammoniate of lithium borohydride, a methyl amine borane, ammonia triborane, ammonium octahydrotriborate, and beryllium hydride. 
     
     
         61 . A method of manufacturing a radiation shield for a spacecraft or spacesuit, comprising:
 mixing a polymer or polymer precursor in a first solvent to form a shell mixture;   mixing a hydrogen-containing material in a second solvent to form a core mixture;   co-axial electrospinning the shell mixture through an outer aperture of a coaxial nozzle and the core mixture through a central aperture of a nozzle to form a fibre having a core formed of the hydrogen-containing material surrounded by a shell formed of the polymer from the shell mixture or formed from the polymer precursors therein; and   incorporating the fibre in a radiation shield for a spacecraft or spacesuit.   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the first and second solvents are immiscible. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising adding polymer to the core mixture. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the step of mixing the hydrogen-containing material and second solvent forms a colloid or suspension. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising heating the mixture of polymer or polymer precursor and first solvent. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material is an inorganic compound. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material is a hydride. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material has a higher hydrogen content by weight than the polymer binder. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material comprises borane and/or a borohydride. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material comprises one or more of lithium and boron. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the hydrogen-containing material comprises lithium-6 and/or boron-10. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the polymer is a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the polymer is one or more of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyisobutylene, polybutadiene, poly (methylmethacrylate), polysulphone, polystyrene, poly (vinyl pyrrolidone), poly vinylidene fluoride, poly tetrafluoroethylene, poly ethylene oxide, poly vinyl acetate, polyester, poly (styrene-co-ethylene-ran-butadiene-styrene), polyepoxide, polyimide, polyamide, polyaramide and melamine formaldehyde. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the polymer is a copolymer. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the hydrogen containing material is selected from ammonia borane, ammonium borohydride, methylammonium borohydride, lithium borohydride, an ammoniate of lithium borohydride, a methyl amine borane, ammonia triborane, ammonium octahydrotriborate, and beryllium hydride.