The present invention relates to rigid structures and composite materials thereof for providing radiation attenuation/shielding. Some embodiments pertain to a radiation shielding apparatus including: a plurality of positionable radiation-shielding stacks of tiles. The stacks are subsequently and adjacently arranged in a contiguous configuration. A tile positioning mechanism allows movement of tiles within a stack between a stacked (retracted) position and an extended position. In the extended position, the tiles of each of the plurality of radiation shielding stacks at least partially overlap tiles of subsequent and adjacent tile stack at corresponding opposing side-margins thereof.

Materials and methods for mitigating passive intermodulation. A membrane for reducing passive intermodulation includes a first polymeric layer, a second polymeric layer, and a continuous metal layer encapsulated between the first and second polymeric layers. A self-adhesive radio frequency barrier tape includes a waterproof polymeric top layer, a metal-containing layer adhered by an adhesive layer to the polymeric top layer, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer adhered to the metal-containing layer, and a release liner on a bottom surface of the pressure sensitive adhesive layer. A method of mitigating passive intermodulation includes passing a probe over an area of interest, the probe being sensitive to an intermodulation frequency of interest, and identifying a suspected source of passive intermodulation when the amplitude of the probe output exceeds a threshold at the frequency of interest. The method further includes covering the suspected passive intermodulation source with a radio frequency barrier material.

The present invention is capable of determining the location(s) of waste (e.g. nuclear fuel debris, obstacles, contaminated or otherwise radioactive materials), monitoring and inspecting their surroundings, and transporting them, as well as use in repair, construction, and reactor decommissioning work in high radiation environment. Ultrasound (or sound) waves are not subject to interference from radiation. This modality is utilized in the present invention to detect and image waste and/or objects of interest. The system combines the resulting ultrasound (or sound) wave images for detecting waste and/or objects of interest with radiation information acquired by a radiation detector, to generate and adjust new composite images to display. For example, the image in the direction of strong radiation is red and the image in the direction of weak radiation is blue. Additionally, the constituent imaging apparatus may be fitted on a drone or robotic system for repair and construction work.

In some aspects, this disclosure relates to improved Z-grade materials, such as those used for shielding, systems incorporating such materials, and processes for making such Z-grade materials. In some examples, the Z-grade material includes a diffusion zone including mixed metallic alloy material with both a high atomic number material and a lower atomic number material. In certain examples, a process for making Z-grade material includes combining a high atomic number material and a low atomic number material, and bonding the high atomic number material and the low atomic number together using diffusion bonding. The processes may include vacuum pressing material at an elevated temperature, such as a temperature near a softening or melting point of the low atomic number material. In another aspect, systems such as a vault or an electronic enclosure are disclosed, where one or more surfaces of Z-grade material make up part or all of the vault/enclosure.

A radiation shielded vault structure includes a rigid outer structure comprising a plurality of rigid structural components that are interconnected at elongated joints to define an interior space. The structural components include a layer of lower atomic number (Z) material such as aluminum alloy and one or more layers of higher atomic number (Z) material titanium and/or tantalum. The vault structure may include radiation shield members extending along the elongated joints to provide radiation shielding at the elongated joints. The shield members comprise a higher atomic number (Z) material such as titanium or tantalum. The rigid structural components may comprise plate members that are interconnected along side edges thereof. End plates may be attached to the plate members to close off the interior space.

A magnetic shielding material includes a material comprising manganese bismuth (MnBi) and tungsten (W), where a ratio of MnBi:W is in a range of 50:50 to about 70:30. A radiation shielding product includes a part including manganese bismuth (MnBi) and tungsten (W), and a plurality of layers having a defined thickness in a z-direction, wherein each layer extends along an x-y plane perpendicular to the z-direction. At least some of the plurality of layers form a functional gradient in the z-direction and/or along the x-y plane, and the functional gradient is defined by a first layer comprising a ratio of MnBi:W being less than 100:0 and an nth layer above the first layer comprising a ratio of MnBi:W greater than 0:100.

Disclosed is a radiation protection barrier. The radiation protection barrier includes at least one plain panel, each including an elongate frame, and a protective sheet attached to the elongate frame. The radiation protection barrier also includes at least one interventional panel coupled to the at least one plain panel, each of the at least one interventional panel(s) including an elongate frame, a protective sheet movably arranged on the elongate frame, a pair of sterile gloves arranged at an intermediate portion of the protective sheet, and a window configured on the protective sheet under the pair of sterile gloves. The radiation protection barrier further includes a plurality of wheel arrangements coupled to the elongate frames of the at least one plain and interventional panels.

Radiation-shielding composite materials and their methods of manufacture. Such methods may include adding a metal hydride to a hardenable matrix precursor, adding a reinforcing material to the hardenable matrix precursor, and hardening the matrix precursor to form a composite material that incorporates the reinforcing material and the metal hydride in a solid matrix. The resulting radiation-shielding composite materials are configured to attenuate incident radiation, and may be used in the construction of panels, laminate structures, buildings, and aerospace vehicles, among others.

An eye mask apparatus and method of use for protecting a patient's eyes during radiography has a lead vinyl sheet with a perimeter configured to completely cover the patient's eyes. The lead vinyl sheet has a first side and second side with a trim portion extending around the perimeter. The trim portion extends inward over the first and second sides. A retaining band coupled at a first attachment point and a second attachment point is configured to hold the eye covering portion against the patient's eyes when the mask is worn. To protect a patient's eyes during radiography, a lead vinyl sheet having at least 0.87 mm thickness, 0.125 mm lead equivalent value, and 2.18 kg/m.sup.2 weight is provided and formed into a shape with the width at least twice the height to cover both eyes. The lead vinyl sheet is placed over the patient's eyes prior to radiography.

The present invention discloses a method for manufacturing a lead-free radiation shielding sheet. The method for manufacturing a lead-free radiation shielding sheet according to the present invention comprises a film laminating step of forming a multi-layered radiation shielding film on one side of a base material by repeating a process of applying to laminate, drying, and integrating a radiation shielding material containing a radiation shielding powder and a binder for forming a film to be mixed with each other on one side of the base material for forming a radiation shielding sheet. According to the present invention, since heavy lead which is harmful to the human body and the environment is not used, side effects such as disease or environmental pollution caused by lead do not occur, the light weight of the radiation shielding sheet is enabled, and protective clothing with excellent wearing sensation can be manufactured, and since flexibility can be improved compared to lead rubber sheets, handling and storage are convenient. In addition, the lead-free radiation shielding sheet manufactured by the present invention can be applied as clothes of various designs and radiation protection means for various uses due to flexibility and ease of operation.