Microporous Carbon for Radiation Shielding and Hydrogen Storage

Advanced Fuel Research, Inc. (AFR) has developed a technology to provide radiation shielding, while simultaneously increasing the capacity of hydrogen storage tanks. This technology uses carbon foam filler with a complex pore structure (?microporosity?). The tank with the filler has, counter-intuitively, more capacity to store hydrogen than an otherwise empty tank. This technology increases hydrogen storage capacity for existing size tanks; or alternatively, for reduced tank size/pressure, the capacity is preserved. It has the most advantage with lower pressure storage containers. AFR proposes that this existing commercial carbon foam manufacturing/processing method can be used to identify and develop an important new aerospace structural/multifunctional material, with structural strength and important radiation shielding and hydrogen fuel storage properties. The objective of the Phase I program is to demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of the proposed method. In Phase I, a number of carbon materials will be synthesized and tested to prove and illustrate the concept and efficacy. In Phase II, an extensive parametric study will be performed with the purpose of optimizing storage and shielding performance. A prototype hydrogen storage/radiation shield system will also be designed, constructed, and tested.