Applications of accelerators and other sources of ionizing radiation
Nuclear techniques for the development of advanced materials By Anass Tarhi
F “High-performance materials produced with radiation can be found everywhere and in everything. They are found in everyday objects that have been made stronger and safer. Some of these materials are even used in making your lifestyle more sustainable.” — Celina Horak, Head, Radioisotope Products and Radiation Technology Section, IAEA
rom active food packaging based on nanocomposites loaded with essential oils, to radiation-grafted super-absorbent polymers, radiation-processed advanced materials play an increasingly important role in reducing food waste, enhancing agricultural performance, improving health care and much more. In addition to their light weight and easy fabrication, advanced materials modified using nuclear techniques offer enhanced performance and durability. Radiation technologies, including accelerators, have strengthened their place and, through many applications, contribute to sustainable development.
Uses of advanced materials To create advanced materials or improve the production of high-performance materials, several radiation-assisted processes are now well established and implemented in industry. For example, the increased suitability of plastics or rubbers exposed to radiation enables the production of various materials, such as plastic tubes resistant to heat and pressure used for circulating water and heating fluids in buildings. “High-performance materials produced with radiation can be found everywhere and in
20 | IAEA Bulletin, May 2022
everything,” said Celina Horak, Head of the Radioisotope Products and Radiation Technology Section at the IAEA. “They are found in everyday objects that have been made stronger and safer. Some of these materials are even used in making your lifestyle more sustainable.” Radiation processing is also applied to dry or harden solvent-free paints, inks and coatings, and to improve the strength, temperature resistance and impermeability of bio-based and biodegradable packaging materials. Porous ceramics with silver nanoparticles generated in situ are now used in various countries for water purification in rural communities.
Benefits of advanced materials in the context of climate change Meeting growing energy demand while addressing climate change requires further developments in renewable energy production, storage and recycling. “Radiation technologies are well suited to fabricate taskspecific membranes and bulk composites for fuel cell technology, to produce more efficiently renewable energy,” said Xavier Coqueret, a professor at the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne. He said radiation pre-treatment can be used to improve lignocellulosic biomass or the