Date Awarded
2018
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Chemistry
Advisor
Richard Kiefer
Committee Member
Randolph Coleman
Committee Member
Christopher Abelt
Abstract
Radiation shielding materials are an essential component of long-term space travel and habitation. The mission to Mars will require a radiation shielding material that can be produced on Mars through energy and cost-efficient means. in this study, Martian regolith simulant and hydrogen-rich polymers are used to create a radiation shielding material in the form of bricks. The bricks are capable of shielding against galactic cosmic radiation on Mars. There are three methods in which the bricks were formed: 1) a heated press, 2) a microwave oven in a CO2 atmosphere, and 3) a vacuum oven with a low CO2 pressure. Each brick varies by the type of polymer, percent of polymer, and the method in which it was made. Flexural tests were conducted on the bricks to determine the flexural strength, flexural strain, and modulus of elasticity. OLTARIS was used to estimate the effectiveness of these bricks to shield against GCR on the Martian surface.
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.21220/s2-acwh-k853
Rights
© The Author
Recommended Citation
Sargent, Sara, "Radiation Shielding Bricks for Mars Using Martian Regolith Simulant and Hydrogen-Rich Polymers" (2018). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. William & Mary. Paper 1550153774.
http://dx.doi.org/10.21220/s2-acwh-k853
