Military Applications Members of the United States' armed forces are called upon to serve in remote areas of the world, and often under harsh climatic conditions. Hence, the need for transportable shelters is universal, whether to house troops, establish command posts, or protect costly equipment employed by the war fighter. Said shelters must be robust, packable and easily deployed under adverse conditions. Moreover, the ability to affect some level of thermal control over the interior space has become much more important as US troops face adversaries in harsh desert regions. The materials, processes, and products derived from the proposed investigation could redefine the notion of a field "tent" and alleviate the need for makeshift plywood shelters. Nuclear Power Industry In the nuclear power industry, radiation shielding is employed to protect plant equipment, the health and safety of people, and the environment, from the harmful effects of radiation. Improvements in nuclear radiation and reactor systems shielding would enhance safety of plant workers and the public and possibly reduce the cost of energy generation.
Habitation Structures: Lunar habitation structures require significant amounts of thermal insulation and radiation shielding. Early habitation modules will not likely be buried in lunar regolith, and therefore, will be fully exposed to the harmful radiation environment of the lunar surface. This technology will allow surface habitation structures to provide both thermal protection and radiation shielding. Crew Exploration Vehicles: The development of a crew exploration vehicle will need radiation protection for journeys to the moon and/or Mars. Thermal insulation that can provide a portion of this protection will reduce mass and volume requirements, resulting in substantial cost savings and more efficient use of habitable space. Robotic Rovers This innovation can be utilized as thermal protection and radiation shielding techniques for robotic rovers and satellites. Although no human presence will occur for these systems, electronics will benefit from reduced radiation levels and the integration opportunities offered by the innovation to combine radiation shielding with thermal insulation.
More »