Polymers offer a number of properties of interest in robotics design, from the well established such as low weight, electrical and thermal insulation, to the more novel, where their visco-elasticity is of great benefit in designing vine robots and flexible sensors. The more dangerous the environment, for example in cases where high radiation is pre…
Silicon carbide fibre–reinforced silicon carbide matrix (SiCf/SiC) composites are desirable in structural nuclear applications due to their low density, high temperature strength and tolerance to energetic radiation. We have subjected two industrial grades of SiCf/SiC to high energy He²⁺ ion irradiation, up to 10,000 a…