Patent · US Expired

Neutron shielding materials and a cask for spent fuel

US6797972B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
8References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 6, 2002
Grant dateSep 28, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 6, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG21F1/10
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A high-polymer neutron shielding material which scarcely reduces the hydrogen number density when exposed to a high temperature of 150 to 200° C. for a long time periodA heat-setting type epoxy resin is employed. The base resin is selected from various epoxy resins such as bisphenol A type epoxy resin. The hardener is selected from alicyclic polyamine, polyamide amine, aromatic polyamine, acid anhydride, and so on. These materials are mixed and hardened at a temperature higher than the room temperature. To give a flame resistance to the hardened resin, a fire retardant such as magnesium hydroxide is added to the mixture. To improve the neutron shielding performance of the hardened resin, a neutron absorbing material is added to the mixture. Further, to increase the moderating performance, hydrogenated bisphenol A epoxy resin is used as the base resin or metal hydride or hydrogen absorbing alloy is added. The present neutron shielding material works as a significant neutron shielding material as its hydrogen number density does not go down for a long time under a high-temperature condition and the neutron shielding performance does not go down.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.