Composition for radiation shielding
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
InventorJames W. Kronberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composition for use as a radiation shield. The shield has a depleted urum core for absorbing gamma rays and a bismuth coating for preventing chemical corrosion and absorbing gamma rays. Alternatively, a sheet of gadolinium may be positioned between the uranium core and the bismuth coating for absorbing neutrons. The composition is preferably in the form of a container for storing materials that emit radiation such as gamma rays and neutrons. The container is preferably formed by casting bismuth around a pre-formed uranium container having a gadolinium sheeting, and allowing the bismuth to cool. The resulting container is a structurally sound, corrosion-resistant, radiation-absorbing container.
Claims14
A shield for ionizing radiation, said shield comprising:
- a body made of uranium and having an exterior;
- and
- a bismuth coating adhered to said exterior of said body, said coating being made of a corrosion-resistant material and adhering to said exterior by forming an intermetallic compound.
Apparatus for storing a source of ionizing radiation, said apparatus comprising:
- a body made of uranium, said body having a first surface and a cavity with an interior surface and an opening, said cavity dimensioned to receive said source;
- a lid dimensioned to cover said opening, said lid made of uranium and having a second surface;
- a first bismuth coating adhering to said first surface, said first coating made of a corrosion-resistant material, said first coating forming an intermetallic compound with said first material;
- a second bismuth coating adhering to said second surface, said second coating made of a corrosion-resistant material, said second coating forming an intermetallic compound with said second surface;
- and
- a third coating adhering to said interior surface, said third coating made of a corrosion-resistant material, said third coating forming an intermetallic compound with said interior surface.
A method for making a shield for ionizing radiation, said method comprising the step of applying a bismuth coating to a first material so that said coating adheres to said first material and forms an intermetallic compound with said first material, said first material absorbing gamma radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.