Research from North Carolina State University shows that lightweight composite metal foams are effective at blocking X-rays, gamma rays and neutron radiation, and are capable of absorbing the energy of high impact collisions. The finding means the metal foams hold promise for use in nuclear safety, space exploration and medical technology applications.
“This work means there’s an opportunity to use composite metal foam to develop safer systems for transporting nuclear waste, more efficient designs for spacecraft and nuclear structures, and new shielding for use in CT scanners,” says Afsaneh Rabiei, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at NC State and corresponding author of a paper on the work.
Rabiei first developed the strong, lightweight metal foam for use in transportation and military applications. But she wanted to determine whether the foam could be used for nuclear or space exploration applications – could it provide structural support, protect against high impacts and provide shielding against various forms of radiation?
To that end, she and her colleagues conducted multiple tests to see how effective it was at blocking X-rays, gamma rays and neutron radiation. She then compared the material’s performance to the performance of bulk materials that are currently used in shielding applications. The comparison was made using samples of the same “areal” density – meaning that each sample had the same weight, but varied in volume.
The most effective composite metal foam against all three forms of radiation is called “high-Z steel-steel” and was made up largely of stainless steel, but incorporated a small amount of tungsten. However, the structure of the high-Z foam was modified so that the composite foam that included tungsten was not denser than metal foam made entirely of stainless steel.
The researchers tested shielding performance against several kinds of gamma ray radiation. Different source materials produce gamma rays with different energies. For example, cesium and cobalt emit higher-energy gamma rays, while barium and americium emit lower-energy gamma rays.
The researchers found that the high-Z foam was comparable to bulk materials at blocking high-energy gamma rays, but was much better than bulk materials – even bulk steel – at blocking low-energy gamma rays.
Similarly, the high-Z foam outperformed other materials at blocking neutron radiation.
The high-Z foam performed better than most materials at blocking X-rays, but was not quite as effective as lead.
“However, we are working to modify the composition of the metal foam to be even more effective than lead at blocking X-rays – and our early results are promising,” Rabiei says. “And our foams have the advantage of being non-toxic, which means that they are easier to manufacture and recycle. In addition, the extraordinary mechanical and thermal properties of composite metal foams, and their energy absorption capabilities, make the material a good candidate for various nuclear structural applications.”
Read more: Study Finds Metal Foams Capable of Shielding X-rays, Gamma Rays, Neutron Radiation
The Latest on: Metal foams
[google_news title=”” keyword=”metal foams” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Metal foams
- O gauge layout made for operationon March 18, 2024 at 9:41 am
As a child, I had done the typical progression from Marx wind-up trains to Lionel O-27 to HO. As a teenager, I put them away. Then in 1993, I saw a French JEP Toy Train set similar to Lionel and Marx.
- Material World: Solament Illuminates Sustainable Solutionson March 18, 2024 at 9:25 am
Sumitomo Metal Mining debuted Solament, a material technology absorbing near-infrared rays, at South by Southwest.
- Spring gift ideas for him and heron March 18, 2024 at 9:08 am
The design features a lace-up vamp, breathable mesh fabric upper, sleek no-sew TPU overlays, and a distinctive metal logo. The Impressions™ top ... are engineered with a Proprietary Recovery IMEVA ...
- The Best Walmart Patio Furniture, Starting at Just $10on March 18, 2024 at 3:00 am
PureWow Editors select every item that appears on this page,, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story You can learn more about that process here. Yahoo Inc. may ...
- Amazon Big Spring Sale: Here's everything you need to know to shop the best dealson March 17, 2024 at 11:31 pm
Have you heard? Amazon is having a huge Spring sales event with deals on spring cleaning gear, home and kitchen appliances, outdoor power tools and more!
- I Tested Four Smart Espresso Makers, and Here’s What I Foundon March 15, 2024 at 9:30 am
A roundup of my reviews of the following smart espresso makers: the Miele Milk Perfection, SPINN, Terra Kaffe TK-02, and Jura ENA8.
- 20 Best Cheap Bed Frames Of 2024, According To Interior Designerson March 14, 2024 at 5:00 am
Ready to find your next budget bed frame? Women's Health chatted with interior design experts and evaluated online shopper reviews to curate a list of the 20 best cheap bed frames of 2024 to add to ...
- Best Deals Under $100on March 13, 2024 at 5:27 am
Shop great discounts on kitchen products, tech gadgets, and moreWe’re highlighting deals on products that score well in Consumer Reports’ tests and cost less than $100. You don’t have to ...
- Awekeys Copper Eagle Metal Keycap Set Reviewon March 12, 2024 at 7:01 am
Awekeys, makers of recycled metal keycaps, just unveiled its latest set, the Copper Eagle. Plated in real copper, these keycaps make a gorgeous enhancement to your mechanical keyboard.
- Crime and Public Safetyon March 11, 2024 at 4:24 am
Report follows the controversial LAPD killing of a man shot dead by police in a warehouse while armed with a plastic fork.
via Bing News