Non-combustible nuclear radiation shields with high hydrogen content
AssigneeChemtree Corporation
InventorsWilliam C. Hall, John M. Peterson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to compositions, methods of production and uses of non-combustible nuclear radiation shields, with particular emphasis on those containing a high concentration of hydrogen atoms, especially effective for moderating neutron energy by elastic scatter, dispersed as a discontinuous phase in a continuous phase of a fire resistant matrix.
Claims22
A method comprising attenuating nuclear radiation by intercepting the radiation with a non-combustible, self supporting system formed of a continuous phase of fire resistant cementitious material and in which is dispersed a discontinuous phase, said discontinuous phase containing hydrogen atoms in the form of a rigid, combustible organic plastic or resin with a particle size distribution such that no more than 10 percent of said discontinuous phase passes a 150 mesh screen and with a volume percent range of said continuous phase between about 40 percent and about 98 percent of the total shield volume.
The method as defined in clam 1 in which the weight percent hydrogen in the set material is greater than 2.9.
A self-supporting, non-combustible, nuclear radiation shielding composition comprising a continuous phase of fire resistant cementitious material and a discontinuous phase dispersed therein, said discontinuous phase containing hydrogen atoms in the form of a rigid, combustible, organic plastic or resin with a particle size distribution such that no more than 10 percent of said discontinuous phase passes a 150 mesh screen and with a volume percent range of said continuous phase between about 40 percent and about 98 percent of the total shield volume, said continuous phase being adapted to retain its shape in the presence of a temperature adapted to soften, melt or decompose the discontinuous phase, said composition further comprising a further material dispersed in the continuous phase and including a substance containing at least one enriched isotope of an element in a ratio different from that present in natural abundance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.