The challenge
Protecting sensitive electronics from solar and cosmic rays
The space environment is harsh, filled with radiation coming from the Sun and cosmic events outside our Solar System. Materials in space must also withstand extreme temperature gradients, heat dissipation, and structural stiffness. Traditionally, satellite and other spacecraft electronics are manufactured with special radiation-protective properties, but these are expensive and difficult to design and build.
Mainstream technologies designed for use on Earth are much cheaper and more advanced, but are prone to failure due to intense radiation in the space environment. Where shielding is possible, Earth-based technologies require very thick shielding that makes their use in space unfeasible except for all but large spacecraft.
Our response
Tailored metal matrix composites for lightweight shielding
We've developed novel radiation shielding using composite materials. The composites can consist of metals, intermetallics, and ceramics, forming any size and shape the base alloy can form. Our shielding provides superior radiation protection while maintaining structural stiffness and minimising added weight.
These composites can be tailored depending on the mission's unique needs, providing not only shielding from particle radiation but other benefits including improved tolerance to high temperatures, controlled pathways for heat conductivity and dissipation, and increased hardness.
Ground testing has demonstrated a 40 to 50 per cent improvement in radiation protection compared with standard aluminium alloy. The technology is going through its first space flight test onboard Curtin University’s Binar-2 and Binar-3 satellites.