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Zhang Z, Shen G, Li R, Yuan L, Feng H, Chen X, Qiu F, Yuan G, Zhuang X. Long-Service-Life Rigid Polyurethane Foam Fillings for Spent Fuel Transportation Casks. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:229. [PMID: 38257028 PMCID: PMC10819990 DOI: 10.3390/polym16020229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Soft materials bearing rigid, lightweight, and vibration-dampening properties offer distinct advantages over traditional wooden and metal-based fillings for spent fuel transport casks, due to their low density, tunable structure, excellent mechanical properties, and ease of processing. In this study, a novel type of rigid polyurethane foam is prepared using a conventional polycondensation reaction between isocyanate and hydroxy groups. Moreover, the density and size of the pores in these foams are precisely controlled through simultaneous gas generation. The as-prepared polyurethane exhibits high thermal stability exceeding 185 °C. Lifetime predictions based on thermal testing indicate that these polyurethane foams could last up to over 60 years, which is double the lifetime of conventional materials of about 30 years. Due to their occlusive structure, the mechanical properties of these polymeric materials meet the design standards for spent fuel transport casks, with maximum compression and tensile stresses of 6.89 and 1.37 MPa, respectively, at a testing temperature of -40 °C. In addition, these polymers exhibit effective flame retardancy; combustion ceased within 2 s after removal of the ignition source. All in all, this study provides a simple strategy for preparing rigid polymeric foams, presenting them as promising prospects for application in spent fuel transport casks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center of Light Alloy Net Forming & State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composite, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China;
- Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design Institute Co., Ltd., 169 Tianlin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200030, China; (G.S.); (R.L.); (H.F.); (X.C.)
| | - Guangyao Shen
- Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design Institute Co., Ltd., 169 Tianlin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200030, China; (G.S.); (R.L.); (H.F.); (X.C.)
| | - Rongbo Li
- Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design Institute Co., Ltd., 169 Tianlin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200030, China; (G.S.); (R.L.); (H.F.); (X.C.)
| | - Lei Yuan
- The Meso-Entropy Matter Lab, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites & Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Ageing, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China;
| | - Hongfu Feng
- Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design Institute Co., Ltd., 169 Tianlin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200030, China; (G.S.); (R.L.); (H.F.); (X.C.)
| | - Xiuming Chen
- Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design Institute Co., Ltd., 169 Tianlin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200030, China; (G.S.); (R.L.); (H.F.); (X.C.)
| | - Feng Qiu
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Technology, 100 Haiquan Road, Shanghai 201418, China
| | - Guangyin Yuan
- National Engineering Research Center of Light Alloy Net Forming & State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composite, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China;
| | - Xiaodong Zhuang
- The Meso-Entropy Matter Lab, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites & Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Ageing, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China;
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Avcıoğlu C, Avcıoğlu S. Transition Metal Borides for All-in-One Radiation Shielding. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:6496. [PMID: 37834632 PMCID: PMC10573671 DOI: 10.3390/ma16196496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
All-in-one radiation shielding is an emerging concept in developing new-generation radiation protection materials since various forms of ionizing radiation, such as neutrons and gamma rays, can occur simultaneously. In this study, we examine the ability of transition metal borides to attenuate both photon and particle radiation. Specifically, fourteen different transition metal borides (including inner transition metal borides) are selected for examination based on their thermodynamic stabilities, molecular weights, and neutron capture cross-sections of the elements they contain. Radiation shielding characteristics of the transition metal borides are computationally investigated using Phy-X/PSD, EpiXS and NGCal software. The gamma-ray shielding capabilities of the transition metal borides are evaluated in terms of the mass attenuation coefficient (μm), the linear attenuation coefficient (µ), the effective atomic number (Zeff), the half-value layer (HVL), the tenth-value layer (TVL), and the mean free path (MFP). The mass and linear attenuation factors are identified for thermal and fast neutrons at energies of 0.025 eV and 4 MeV, respectively. Moreover, the fast neutron removal cross-sections (∑R) of the transition metal borides are calculated to assess their neutron shielding abilities. The results revealed that borides of transition metals with a high atomic number, such as Re, W, and Ta, possess outstanding gamma shielding performance. At 4 MeV photon energy, the half-value layers of ReB2 and WB2 compounds were found as 1.38 cm and 1.43 cm, respectively. Most notably, these HVL values are lower than the HVL value of toxic Pb (1.45 cm at 4 MeV), which is one of the conventional radiation shielding materials. On the other hand, SmB6 and DyB6 demonstrated exceptional neutron attenuation for thermal and fast neutrons due to the high neutron capture cross-sections of Sm, Dy, and B. The outcomes of this study reveal that transition metal borides can be suitable candidates for shielding against mixed neutron and gamma radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celal Avcıoğlu
- Fachgebiet Keramische Werkstoffe/Chair of Advanced Ceramic Materials, Institute of Material Science and Technology, Faculty III Process Sciences, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17, Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Suna Avcıoğlu
- Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Chemistry and Metallurgy, Yıldız Technical University, 34956 Istanbul, Turkey
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Kadyrzhanov DB, Kozlovskiy AL, Zdorovets MV, Kenzhina IE, Shlimas DI. Evaluation of the Influence of Grain Sizes of Nanostructured WO 3 Ceramics on the Resistance to Radiation-Induced Softening. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:1028. [PMID: 36770035 PMCID: PMC9918201 DOI: 10.3390/ma16031028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The main purpose of this study is to test a hypothesis about the effect of grain size on the resistance to destruction and changes in the strength and mechanical properties of oxide ceramics subjected to irradiation. WO3 powders were chosen as objects of study, which have a number of unique properties that meet the requirements for their use as a basis for inert matrices of dispersed nuclear fuel. The grain-size variation in WO3 ceramics was investigated by mechanochemical grinding of powders with different grinding speeds. Grinding conditions were experimentally selected to obtain powders with a high degree of size homogeneity, which were used for further research. During evaluation of the strength properties, it was found that a decrease in the grain size leads to an increase in the crack resistance, as well as the hardness of ceramics. The increase in strength properties can be explained by an increase in the dislocation density and the volume contribution of grain boundaries, which lead to hardening and an increase in resistance. During determination of the radiation damage resistance, it was found that a decrease in grain size to 50-70 nm leads to a decrease in the degree of radiation damage and the preservation of the resistance of irradiated ceramics to destruction and cracking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dauren B. Kadyrzhanov
- Engineering Profile Laboratory, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Nur-Sultan 010008, Kazakhstan
| | - Artem L. Kozlovskiy
- Engineering Profile Laboratory, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Nur-Sultan 010008, Kazakhstan
- Department of General Physics, Satbayev University, Almaty 050032, Kazakhstan
| | - Maxim V. Zdorovets
- Engineering Profile Laboratory, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Nur-Sultan 010008, Kazakhstan
- Department of Intelligent Information Technologies, Ural Federal University, 620075 Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Inesh E. Kenzhina
- Department of General Physics, Satbayev University, Almaty 050032, Kazakhstan
- Advanced Electronics Development Laboratory, Kazakh-British Technical University, 59 Tole bi St., Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan
| | - Dmitriy I. Shlimas
- Engineering Profile Laboratory, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Nur-Sultan 010008, Kazakhstan
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