Also: polyethylene shielding, hydrogen-rich shielding, regolith shielding
Astronauts need protection from cosmic rays. Hydrogen-rich materials like polyethylene, boron compounds and local soil are studied as lighter shields.
Readiness: lab lab studies · prototype demonstrated objects · commercial products or buildings in real use · review summaries of other studies.
Harrison and colleagues made polyethylene and boron nitride composites for space radiation shielding.
As reported in: Harrison, Weaver, Bertelsen et al. (2008). Polyethylene/boron nitride composites for space radiation shielding. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. doi:10.1002/app.27949
Abstract only
Narici and colleagues measured how Kevlar and polyethylene shielding performed aboard the International Space Station.
As reported in: Narici, Casolino, Di Fino et al. (2017). Performances of Kevlar and Polyethylene as radiation shielding on-board the International Space Station in high latitude radiation environment. Scientific Reports. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-01707-2
Meurisse and colleagues tested sintered lunar regolith simulant for shielding against neutron radiation.
As reported in: Meurisse, Cazzaniga, Frost et al. (2020). Neutron radiation shielding with sintered lunar regolith. Radiation Measurements. doi:10.1016/j.radmeas.2020.106247
Abstract only