Lightweight Composite Radiation Shielding Panels for Mobile Medical Facilities

The US Army DEPMEDS has a need to develop lightweight and durable panels with integrated radiation shielding for CT Scanner Shelters. This will allow the shelter to be located in the main body of the CSH, resulting in improved care for soldiers. The Army needs to shield the shelter without exceeding the overall shelter weight limit of 15,000 lb and at less than 10% cost increase of the shelter system. To accomplish this, new lightweight shelter walls must be developed with integral radiation shielding. Lightweight composite panels can offer a viable solution to this problem. NexGen Composites, in collaboration with The University of Dayton Research Institute proposes to develop novel composite materials and processes using nanoparticle based fillers of heavy elements in a low-cost polymer resin matrix as well as growing multi-walled carbon nanotubes in glass or carbon fiber. Prototype test panels will be fabricated using this new class of materials and their x-ray radiation shielding and physical characteristics will be evaluated. The materials and processes that show the most promise in Phase I will be scaled up in Phase II for fabrication of full-scale panels which will be integrated in a 20 one-side expandable ISO shelter for testing.