Ceramic radiation shielding material and method of preparation

Abstract

A composition of matter and method of forming a radiation shielding member at ambient temperatures in which the composition of matter includes a phosphate bonded ceramic, a radiation shielding material dispersed in the phosphate bonded ceramic matrix.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE [0001] The present application claims priority as a Continuation-in-Part under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 295,708, entitled Ceramic Radiation Shielding Material and Method of Preparation, filed Dec. 6, 2005 which in turn claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 60 / 633,595, filed on Dec. 6, 2004, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to the field ceramics and particularly to a cold fired zeolite (alumino-silicate) containing ceramic having radiation shielding characteristics. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Radiation containment and shielding, including radiation shielding and electromagnetic shielding, is of increasing importance in a technologically advanced society. While nuclear power generation offers an alternative to fossil fuel energy sources, containment of waste materials currently raise the e...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

While nuclear power generation offers an alternative to fossil fuel energy sources, containment of waste materials currently raise the expense thereby decreasing the overall economic feasibility of generating power.

Other low level radioactive materials such as medical wastes, industrial wastes, wastes from depleted uranium ordinance, and the like also experience the same storage, shielding, and containment issues.

Drawbacks to these diagnostic methods include the shielding necessary to protect the patient and medical personnel from unwanted exposure from radiation and other forms of electromagnetic energy.

Lead shielding drawbacks include the mass of lead, the difficulty in forming structures for holding the lead sheeting in place, the desire for aesthetically pleasing structures, and the like.

Utilization of cementitious materials to contain and shield radioactive materials is evidenced by U.S. Pat. No. 6,565,647, entitled: Cementitious Shotcrete Composition, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, may be problematic as concrete based systems implement weak hydrogen bonding (in comparison to ionic bonding and covalent bonding).

Also these systems suffer from high levels of porosity (in comparison to other matrices such as a polymeric based material) and cracking issues.

The exothermic hydrolysis reactio