# US 2019/0172595 A1 · Sticky neutron moderator core pellets

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- Number: US 2019/0172595 A1
- Document ID: US20190172595A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/920,740
- Filed: 2018-03-14
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01
- Assignees: U.S. Department of Energy
- Applicants: US Department of Energy
- Inventors: Donald R. Lambert
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190172595A1

## CPC

- G21C 7/24: Selection of substances for use as neutron-absorbing material
- G21C 21/18: Manufacture of control elements covered by group G21C7/00
- G21F 9/12: by absorption; by adsorption; by ion-exchange
- Y02E 30/30: Nuclear fission reactors
- G21C: NUCLEAR REACTORS (fusion reactors, hybrid fission-fusion reactors G21B; nuclear explosives G21J)
- G21F: PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR (radiation protection by pharmaceutical means A61K8/00, A61Q17/04; in cosmonautic vehicles B64G1/54; combined with a reactor G21C11/00; combined with X-ray tubes H01J35/16; combined with X-ray apparatus H05G1/02)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprise pellets comprised of neutron moderating or absorbing materials with a polymer coating. The neutron core moderator pellet 100 comprises a core matrix of neutron absorbing material 102 and a polymer coating 104 that can also serve as a binder for the core 102. The neutron moderating/absorbing material 102 can be selected from a variety of chemical element materials that have been proven to have established neutron capture/absorbing capabilities.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1: A neutron absorbing decontamination pellet comprising:
an innermost core comprised of a predetermined neutron absorbing material; and
an insoluble polymer coating forming a continuous outer casing for the core of neutron absorbing material.

### Claim at position 2 (depends on 1)

2: The decontamination pellet of claim 1, wherein the neutron core material can be configured into a predetermined size.

### Claim at position 3 (depends on 2)

3: The decontamination pellet of claim 2, wherein the outer casing is comprised of a substance that is less dense than the neutron core material.

### Claim at position 4 (depends on 3)

4: The decontamination pellet of claim 3, wherein the outer casing has a predetermined melting point.

### Claim at position 5 (depends on 3)

5: The decontamination pellet of claim 3, wherein upon exposure to air the outer casing becomes either semi-rigid or rigid yet remains pliable.

### Claim at position 6 (depends on 5)

6: The decontamination pellet of claim 5, wherein the neutron core can be configured into an elongated fiber strand.

### Claim at position 7 (depends on 6)

7: The decontamination pellet of claim 6, wherein the outer casing becomes sticky, yet retains its integrity, upon exposure water.

### Claim at position 8 (depends on 6)

8: The decontamination pellet of claim 6, wherein the outer casing becomes sticky, yet retains its integrity, upon exposure to a predetermined temperature.

### Claim at position 9

9: A method for the formation of neutron absorbing decontamination pellets, the method comprising the steps of:
creating a slurry comprised of a predetermined neutron absorber material and a binding agent;
transporting the slurry through a feeder hose, the hose terminating at a deposit nozzle;
employing the deposit nozzle to form the slurry into neutron cores of predetermined sizes;
immersing the neutron cores formed by the deposit nozzle into a bath of a predetermined insoluble polymer solution to create an outer casing upon each immersed neutron core in order to construct a neutron absorbing decontamination pellet, and
exposing the neutron absorbing decontamination pellets to air to dry, and thereafter transferring the dry decontamination pellets to storage.

### Claim at position 10 (depends on 9)

10: The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of adding the decontamination pellets into a predetermined solution that will act as a delivery mechanism for the decontamination pellets.

### Claim at position 11 (depends on 10)

11: The method of claim 10, wherein the outer casing of the decontamination pellets are comprised of a substance that is less dense than the slurry comprised of the neutron absorber material and binding agent.

### Claim at position 12 (depends on 11)

12: The method of claim 11, wherein the deposit nozzle can be configured to form the slurry into an elongated fiber strand.

### Claim at position 13 (depends on 12)

13: The method of claim 12, wherein the outer casing becomes sticky, yet retains its integrity, upon exposure water.

### Claim at position 14 (depends on 12)

14: The method of claim 12, wherein the outer casing becomes sticky, yet retains its integrity, upon exposure to a predetermined temperature.