# US 5,334,847 A · Composition for radiation shielding > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,334,847 A - Document ID: US5334847A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/014,604 - Filed: 1993-02-08 - Granted: 1994-08-02 - Earliest claimed: 1993-02-08 - Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy - Inventors: James W. Kronberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5334847A ## CPC - G21F 1/125: {comprising metals} - 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) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The shield as recited in claim 1, further comprising a layer made of gadolinium being adhered to said exterior of said body, said bismuth coating being adhered to said gadolinium layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The shield as recited in claim 1, wherein said bismuth coating is applied to said exterior of said body by a method comprising the steps of: heating said first material to approximately 300.degree. C.; heating said bismuth until said bismuth is molten; and pouring said bismuth over said first material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The shield as recited in claim 1, wherein said shield is for use with a source of ionizing radiation, and wherein said body is a container for storing said source. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The shield as recited in claim 1, wherein said bismuth coating is applied to said exterior of said body by heating said bismuth until said bismuth is molten and then dipping said first material into said molten bismuth. ### Claim 6 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said first surface further comprises a first external layer of gadolinium, said second surface further comprises a second external layer of gadolinium and said interior surface further comprises a third external layer of gadolinium, said first coating being adhered to said first external layer, said second coating being adhered to said second external layer, and said third coating being adhered to said third external layer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said bismuth is applied to said first surface and said interior surface by a method comprising the steps of: heating said uranium body to approximately 300.degree. C.; heating said bismuth until said bismuth is molten; and pouring said bismuth over said uranium body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said second bismuth coating is applied to said second surface by heating said bismuth until said bismuth is molten and then dipping said lid into said molten bismuth. ### Claim 10 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said first material is made of uranium, further comprising the step of coating said uranium with a layer of gadolinium. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said applying step further comprises the steps of heating said bismuth until said bismuth is molten and then pouring said bismuth over said first material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) (Amended) The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said applying step further comprises the steps of heating said bismuth until said bismuth is molten and then dipping said first material into said molten bismuth. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said first material is uranium, further comprising the steps of: coating said uranium with a layer of gadolinium; heating said bismuth until said bismuth is molten; and then pouring said bismuth over said first material, said bismuth adhering to said layer of gadolinium.