With growing interest in space travel, especially after the successful launch of the Nuri rocket and the establishment of the Korea Aerospace Administration, both the public and private sectors are investing in space-related industries.
However, one big challenge for space travelers is exposure to harmful cosmic radiation.
A research team led by Dr. Dae-Yoon Kim from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) has developed a new material that could help protect against this radiation.
The material is a special fiber that can block neutrons, a major part of space radiation that can harm living organisms and cause electronic devices to malfunction.
This is especially important for long-term space missions, where exposure to radiation can be a serious problem.
The research was published in the journal Advanced Fiber Materials, and it highlights a major breakthrough in using boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs).
These nanotubes are similar to carbon nanotubes but have one key difference—they contain boron atoms in their structure, which makes them excellent at absorbing neutrons.
In fact, BNNTs can absorb neutrons about 200,000 times better than carbon nanotubes.
Dr. Kim’s team was able to blend these BNNTs with aramid polymers, creating a stable solution that can be turned into lightweight, flexible fibers. These fibers can withstand temperatures up to 500°C and are highly durable.
Because of these qualities, BNNT composite fibers can be used to make fabrics that protect against radiation, offering a practical solution for space travelers.
Not only could these fibers be used in space, but they could also be applied to everyday clothing for people working in high-radiation environments.
This includes flight crews, healthcare workers, and power plant staff, who may be at risk of radiation exposure in their jobs.
By wearing clothing made from these fibers, they could stay protected without needing heavy or bulky equipment.
Additionally, the heat-resistant properties of BNNTs make them useful in extreme environments like defense and firefighting, where both heat and radiation are potential threats.
“With the functional textiles we’ve developed, we can easily create clothing that offers basic protection from neutron radiation,” said Dr. Kim. “As Korea continues to rapidly advance in space and defense, we believe this new fiber will create great opportunities in both fields.”
In summary, this new BNNT-based fiber offers a promising way to protect not only space travelers but also people on Earth who are exposed to radiation, marking a major step forward in safety technology.
