Assessment of the Impact of Ionizing Radiation Absorption on the Structural, Mechanical and Biophysical Properties of Textiles Used in Multilayer Space Suit

Materials (Basel). 2022 Jul 18;15(14):4992. doi: 10.3390/ma15144992.

Abstract

The article presents research on ergonomics, biophysical comfort and safety of protective clothing. The resistance of the structural, thermal and mechanical properties of five fabrics (CBXS400, GG200T, Twaron CT736, Dyneema HB26 and T1790C), differing in geometry and raw material composition used in space suits, to dangerous ionizing radiation (β and γ) occurring in space was tested. For both types of radiation, four identical one-time doses in the range of 25-100 kGy were used. The effect of the applied absorbed doses of β and γ radiation on the parameters of textiles influencing ergonomics and safety of the cosmonaut's work was verified by structural tests (micro-computed tomography and optical microcopy), thermal resistance tests (sweating guarded-hotplate) and strength tests (tensile testing machine). Experimental studies of thermal properties are supplemented with heat transport simulations using the finite volume method performed with 3D models of real textiles. The greatest reduction of thermal resistance for Twaron CT736 (-0.0667 m2·°C·W-1 for 100 kGy of β-radiation) and Dyneema HB26 (-0.0347 m2·°C·W-1 for 50 kGy of β-radiation) is observed. Strength tests have shown that all tested textiles are resistant to both types of radiation. Three textiles were selected to create a three-layer assembly with potential application in a cosmonaut's glove (Extravehicular Activity-EVA).

Keywords: CAD modeling; biophysical comfort; composite; heat transfer; mass transfer; nonwoven fabric; protective clothing; simulation; thermal insulation; woven fabric; β-radiation; γ-radiation.

Grants and funding

These studies were financed from funds assigned from: I42/501-4-42-1-1 statutory activity by the Lodz University of Technology. Institute of Material Science of Textiles and Polymer Composites. Poland; the “Innovative Textiles 2020+” no. RPLD.01.01.00-10-0002/17-00 investment project within the Regional Operational Programme for Łódzkie 2014–2020.