Borosilicate Glass and Barite Shielding Material for Radiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shielding materials for radioactive rays, such as concrete, face challenges in achieving high density and homogeneity while maintaining structural strength, fire resistance, and minimizing shrinkage, especially when shielding against gamma and neutron radiation, which requires a balance of light and heavy elements and adequate water content.
Innovation Solution
A shielding material composed of water, Portland cement, borosilicate glass powder, barite sand, and barite as coarse aggregate, with specific proportions of boron and barium sulfate, along with additives like a polycarboxylic water reducer, to achieve a density range of 3.46 to 3.55 g/cm3, providing effective neutron and gamma ray shielding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If concrete shielding material is used to shield gamma and neutron radiation, then radiation shielding capability is improved, but density and homogeneity are difficult to achieve while maintaining structural strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining barite (heavy element for gamma shielding), borosilicate glass powder (light element for neutron shielding), and Portland cement as binding agent. This composite approach allows simultaneous achievement of radiation shielding capability and structural strength through synergistic material combination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using barite as coarse aggregate (10-40mm) and barite sand as fine aggregate (0.075-4.75mm), creating different density zones within the concrete matrix. The heavy barite particles are strategically distributed to provide localized gamma shielding, while the borosilicate glass powder provides uniform neutron shielding throughout the matrix
2Object-affected harmful factors
If high density shielding material is used to shield radiation, then shielding effectiveness is improved, but shrinkage and homogeneity issues worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes parameter ratios including water-cement ratio (0.37), sand ratio (32.1%), and additive dosage (1.80%) to balance density achievement with shrinkage control. The polycarboxylic water reducer adjusts the water-cement ratio to maintain workability while achieving high density without excessive shrinkage
Solution Approach 2:
The polycarboxylic water reducer acts as an intermediary substance that improves the compatibility between water and cement, reducing capillary pores and micro-cracks. This mediator enhances homogeneity and reduces shrinkage while allowing the high-density barite aggregates to be properly distributed and embedded
3Object-affected harmful factors
If adequate water content is added to improve neutron shielding, then neutron shielding capability is improved, but construction workability and structural strength are affected
Solution Approach 1:
The polycarboxylic water reducer serves as a mediator that allows adequate water content to be present for neutron shielding while maintaining construction workability. It reduces surface tension and improves fluidity, enabling the mix to remain workable with higher water content necessary for hydrogen-rich neutron shielding
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the water-cement ratio parameter to 0.37, which provides sufficient water for neutron shielding capability while the polycarboxylic water reducer maintains workability. This parameter optimization balances the competing requirements of neutron shielding and construction ease
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The material offers excellent performance in shielding neutron and gamma rays, is cost-effective, and requires a compatible thickness, ensuring effective radiation protection with improved mechanical properties and constructability.
Implementation Method 1
barium sulfate content in the barite sand and the barite accounts for 71 to 75 percent of the total weight of the shielding material
Implementation Method 2
The γ ray is a type of electromagnetic waves with high energy and high frequency, and has enormous penetrability. As they penetrate a protective substance, they can be absorbed gradually
Implementation Method 3
boron element content in the borosilicate glass powder accounts for 0.5 to 1 percent of the total weight of the shielding material; nuclei can only capture and absorb the slow neutrons
Implementation Method 4
the rapid neutrons can only be decelerated by colliding with nuclei, but when the nuclei of certain substances collide with the neutrons, secondary γ ray will be generated. The intermediate neutrons can be decelerated by the nuclei of light elements
Implementation Method 5
a cementing material, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate and an additive, wherein the fine aggregate is composed of borosilicate glass powder and barite sand
Data Source
AI summary
A shielding material for shielding radioactive ray and preparation method thereof. The shielding material consists of water, a cementing material, a fine aggregate material, a coarse aggregate material and an additive, wherein the fine aggregate material consists of a borosilicate glass powder and a barite sand, and the coarse aggregate material consists of a barite. A content of boron element in the borosilicate glass powder accounts for 0.5%-1% of the total weight of the shielding material. A content of barium sulfate in the barite sand and the barite accounts for 71%-75% of the total weight of the shielding material. Other contents include water, the cementing material and the additive, and a sum of contents of all components is 100% total weight of the shielding material.