Techniques For Radiation Hardening of EKV Through Incorporation of Shielding In Component Structures Fabricated From Be/Be Alloy Substitute Materials

Beryllium (Be) has been the material of choice for many MDA Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) components due to its desirable physical characteristics despite health hazard concerns and its high cost. However, Be/Be alloys have poor radiation shielding properties against x-ray, gamma and space radiation. Lead shielding materials must be used in conjunction with Be/Be alloy materials where radiation shielding is required. The use of lead radiation shielding materials adds manufacturing cost and mass to the EKV. Innovative alternative materials are required that can reduce or maintain a net zero increase in mass, while incorporating radiation shielding directly into the EKV component. This project proposes to develop Tungsten Coated Carbon Fiber (TCCF) and tungsten powder (TP) polymer composite materials to replace beryllium/lead material combinations used in EKV components. The use of TCCF and tungsten powder composite materials will allow for the design of lower cost, lighter weight EKV components and structures, that can provide the same structural strength and stiffness as Be components while incorporating equivalent radiation shielding as lead into the composite EKV component. Significant cost and weight savings are expected using this manufacturing approach since the radiation shielding material will be incorporated directly into the EKV component.