Radiation shielding materials and containers incorporating same

A shielding material precursor, comprising:

• a particulate uranium compound selected from the group consisting of uranium dioxide particles and uranium carbide particles and mixtures of uranium dioxide particles and uranium carbide particles;
• and
• a resinous binding material, wherein said resinous binding material is polyfunctional.

A shielding material precursor, comprising:

• a particulate uranium compound selected from the group consisting of uranium dioxide particles and uranium carbide particles and mixtures of uranium dioxide particles and uranium carbide particles;
• and
• a metal binding material.

A shielding material precursor, comprising:

• a particulate uranium compound selected from the group consisting of uranium dioxide particles and uranium carbide particles and mixtures of uranium dioxide particles and uranium carbide particles;
• and
• a metal-oxide binding material.

A method for forming a monolithic shielding material, comprising:

• combining a particulate uranium compound, a metal oxide binder, and water to form a mixture;
• curing the mixture at a sufficient temperature and pressure to form a monolithic shielding material.

A method for forming a monolithic shielding material, comprising:

• combining a particulate uranium compound selected from the group consisting of uranium dioxide particles and uranium carbide particles and mixtures of uranium dioxide particles and uranium carbide particles and a metal binder to form a precursor mixture;
• and
• curing the mixture at a sufficient temperature and pressure to form a monolithic shielding material.

A method for forming a monolithic shielding material, comprising

• melting a metal binding material;
• adding a particulate uranium compound selected from the group consisting of uranium dioxide particles and uranium carbide particles and mixtures of uranium dioxide particles and uranium carbide particles to the melted binder to form a mixture;
• cooling the mixture to form a monolithic shielding material.

A method for forming a monolithic shielding material, comprising

• combining a particulate uranium compound particulate uranium compound selected from the group consisting of uranium dioxide particles and uranium carbide particles and mixtures of uranium dioxide particles and uranium carbide particles and a thermosetting polyfunctional resin binder to form a precursor mixture;
• and
• curing the mixture at a sufficient temperature and pressure to form a monolithic shielding material at ambient temperature and pressure.

A method for forming a monolithic shielding material, comprising:

• combining a particulate uranium compound selected from the group consisting of uranium dioxide particles and uranium carbide particles and mixtures of uranium dioxide particles and uranium carbide particles and a polyfunctional resin binder to from a precursor mixture;
• and
• curing the mixture at a sufficient temperature and pressure to form a monolithic shielding material.

A monolithic shielding material, comprising:

• a pyrolized uranium compound selected from the group consisting of uranium dioxide particles and uranium carbide particles and mixtures of uranium dioxide particles and uranium carbide particles,
• and a thermosetting polyfunctional resinous binding material.

A monolithic shielding material, comprising:

• a pyrolized uranium compound and a metal binding material, said uranium compound being selected from the group consisting of uranium dioxide particles and uranium carbide particles and mixtures of uranium dioxide particles and uranium carbide particles.

A monolithic shielding material, comprising a pyrolized uranium compound and a metal oxide binding material.