Scientists at NIU MIET have developed a lightweight multi-layer coating that protects satellite microelectronics from radiation without the need for massive shields. The results were published in the journal "Modeling of Systems and Processes". The new protection does not add weight to the spacecraft, which means it allows for an increase in its payload.
Unlike thick aluminum plates, the coating consists of alternating layers of tungsten, molybdenum, and titanium of varying thicknesses. When cosmic rays hit, each layer heats up and expands at a different rate, which in a conventional design leads to internal stresses that cause cracks.
Calculations showed that if titanium is made thinner, and tungsten and molybdenum thicker, the coating stops "pulling itself apart" and withstands stress for approximately twice as long.
In fact, the development extends the life of communication microsatellites in low orbits. Today, such devices are extremely vulnerable to radiation, and sending every extra gram of protection reduces their effectiveness. Targeted selection of geometry for a specific microcircuit solves this problem. The authors plan to create experimental samples with the new protection and test them in space.
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