Balla Diop Ngom
Universit Cheikh Anta Diop
de Dakar
Senegal
Title: Synthesis, characterisation and proton irradiation of WC1 xBx for space applications
Biography
Biography: Balla Diop Ngom
Abstract
Achieving effective radiation shielding at low cost and mass is of major interest to the space industry. This article presents a pioneering investigation into the shielding properties of WC1 xBx to low energy protons. This investigation is an attempt to extend the bullet proof applications of W2B5/B4C to space radiation shielding applications, offering low cost and low mass protection against radiation including X-rays, neutrons, gamma rays and protons in low Earth orbit. The focus in this article, however, is on low energy protons. The WC1 xBx coatings were synthesised by the pulsed laser ablation of B4C/W2B5. They were characterised by X-ray Diffraction, Atomic Force Microscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Heavy Ion Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis. The characterisation and data analysis strongly suggest a solid solution of the form WC1-xBx which contains crystalline and amorphous forms. The effects of 900 keV proton irradiation were the melting and subsequent growing of nanorods on the surface of the coating, the lateral transfer of the proton energy across the coating surface, and the lateral displacement of matter along the coating surface. These effects show that the coating is a promising cost effective and low mass radiation shield against low energy protons.