Study of radiation shielding efficacy of polyethylene and polyethylene-based composite against galactic cosmic rays and secondary neutrons

Lawrence H. Heilbronn, Subhayu Sen, Scott O, Yongzhe Yan, Selvum Pillay, Haibin Ning, Nuclear Engineering Department, University of Tennessee, NASA Physical Science Informatics, Universities Space Research Association, Plasma Processes LLC, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Materials Processing and Applications Development Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials

Published online on October 23, 2025

Abstract

Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials, Volume 39, Issue 5, Page 2308-2326, May 2026.
Polyethylene and polyethylene-based composites increasingly draw researchers’ attention in space exploration applications because of their unique characteristics such as lightweight and radiation shielding. This study focuses on the space radiation ...