Effect of intercalation in graphite epoxy composites on the shielding of high energy radiation

Abstract

The half-thickness and mass absorption coefficient of 13.0 keV x-rays, 46.5 keV γ-rays, and 1.16 MeV βƟ particles have been measured for pristine, bromine intercalated, and iodine monobromide intercalated pitch-based graphite fiber composites. Since these materials have been proposed to replace aluminum structures in spacecraft, the results were compared to aluminum. Pristine graphite epoxy composites were found to have about 4.0 times the half-thickness, and 40% of the mass absorption of aluminum for ionizing radiation. Bromine intercalation improved performance to 90% of the half-thickness, and 1.7 times the mass absorption coefficient of aluminum. Iodine monobromide extended the performance to 70% of the half-thickness and 3.0 times the mass absorption of aluminum. Thus, intercalation not only makes up the deficiency conventional composites have in shielding components from ionizing radiation, but actually confers advantages in mass and thickness over aluminum. The βƟ particle shielding of all the materials tested was found to be very effective. The shielding of all of the materials was found to have nearly the same mass absorption coefficient of 17.8 ± 0.9 cm2/g. Inelastic scattering processes were found to be important in βƟ particle shielding; however, the extent of inelastic scattering and thus the distribution of energies of the transmitted electrons did not vary with material.