A method of producing a neutron absorbing plate constructed of a boron carbide aluminum matrix composite material is disclosed. The method includes mixing a 30-50 micron average particle size B4C powder with an aqueous organic binder component to form a slurry; then drying the slurry at a temperature from about 20 to about 90 degrees Celsius until a dried cake comprising 1-20 percent organic binder of the total weight of said dry cake is formed; then granulating said dried cake to yield a granule size from about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm; then compressing said granules under pressure to create a particulate preform having an interior open porosity; and finally infiltrating the preform under pressure with a liquid metal, to form a metal matrix composite with uniform B4C particle loading.

A shielded apparatus comprising a device and a shield, and a method of producing a shielded apparatus. The device attenuates x-rays by different amounts in different parts of the device, providing a first span of x-ray attenuations. The shield comprises a layer of x-ray attenuating material that attenuates x-rays by an amount that varies across the shield, providing a second span of attenuations. The second span of attenuations has a magnitude between 20% and 120% of the magnitude of the first span of attenuations.

Provided is a neutron shielding material having good light transparency and excellent shielding performance against thermal neutron rays, and a method for producing the same. A neutron shielding material according to the present invention includes a light transmitting material and a boron compound enriched in a boron isotope having a mass number of 10, the neutron shielding material being formed of a molded product having light transparency. Shielding performance against thermal neutron rays is improved by containing a boron compound enriched in a boron isotope having a mass number of 10. As a result, the neutron shielding material can be widely applied to members requiring visibility and neutron blocking properties.

A portable XRF analyzer includes a hand shield and a handle. In one embodiment, the XRF analyzer further comprises a power component spaced-apart from an engine component. The handle and the hand shield extend in parallel between the engine component and the power component, attaching the engine component to the power component. In another embodiment, the XRF analyzer further comprises two housing portions, each integrally formed in a single, monolithic body formed together at the same time. The two housing portions are joined together to form an XRF analyzer housing. In another embodiment, the hand shield is shorter than the handle.

A filled composition for radiation shielding includes at least one polymer ingredient and at least one metal-containing filler. The at least one polymer ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a polyolefin elastomer, a polyolefin co-polymer, a polyolefin ter-polymer, and a combination thereof. The polyolefin elastomer, the polyolefin co-polymer, or the polyolefin ter-polymer includes monomer units derived from ethylene and at least one vinyl monomer having more than three carbon atoms. The at least one metal-containing filler is selected from a metal filler, a metal compound or a combination thereof.

Embodiments of the invention provide a composition for shielding radiation, including 100 parts by weight of a first resin including one or more selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane resin, a polysiloxane resin, a silicone resin; a fluorine resin, an acrylic resin, and an alkyd resin; 5 to 30 parts by weight of a second resin including one or more selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), medium-density polyethylene (MDP E), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and low-density polyethylene (LDPE); 5 to 30 parts by weight of a polyether ether ketone (PEEK) resin powder; 5 to 80 parts by weight of a metal powder; 1 to 70 parts by weight of a metal oxide powder; 1 to 50 parts by weight of paraffin; 5 to 15 parts by weight of a boron compound; and 10 to 50 parts by weight of a carbon powder. Accordingly, a fiber complex, protective clothing, and the like including the composition for shielding radiation of the present invention includes a PEEK resin without use of lead, and thus, may shield even neutron rays as well as radiation, such as alpha rays, beta rays, proton rays, gamma rays, and X-rays.

A lightweight radiation shielding material. A carbon nanotube forest is embedded in a matrix comprising nanoparticulates, such as nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, or graphene nanosheets. The nanoparticulates can be low atomic number (low-Z) or high atomic number (high-Z). The matrix can be a solidified polymer, epoxy, resin, or ceramic precursor, for example silicon carbide. The radiation shield can shield an object from radio frequency interference (RFI), lightning, electromagnetic interference (EMI), an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), gamma rays, X-rays, neutrons, and/or protons. The nanoforest is disposed on a conductive base with sufficient in-plane electrical conductivity to provide an effective conductive path for currents induced by radiation absorption. The base can be a second nanoforest comprising horizontally-oriented carbon nanotubes, which makes the shield particularly lightweight, as low as 10% of the mass of aluminum that provides equivalent shielding. The base can be adhered to an object to be shielded.

A radiation attenuation shield, method, and system are disclosed. The shield includes a polymer, a radiation attenuating material, and a magnetic material. The radiation attenuating material and the magnetic material may be dispersed within the polymer to form an attenuation layer. Further, a magnetic material layer may be positioned adjacent to the attenuation layer or encase the attenuation layer. The radiation attenuation shield may be made by combining the components to create a mixture and then inserting the mixture in a mold until a solidified shape is formed. Moreover, the radiation attenuation shield of the present invention may be mechanically secured to a structure to contain radiation. Further, the shield may be secured to a structure by using the magnetic properties of the shield.

A radiation shielding material includes a main body having communication air holes and made of a base member constituting a three-dimensional reticulate skeletal structure, and a metal having radiation shielding capability. The radiation shielding material has moisture permeability through the communication air holes. The base member contains fibers, a foam material, a porous material, or a spongy material. The metal is provided in the form of a film so as to cover the surfaces of the base member of the main body. The radiation shielding material has a degree of moisture permeability of 1 g/m.sup.2 h or higher measured through the A-2 method that is a water method in accordance with JIS L 1099 where the temperature is modified to 20 C. and the humidity is modified to 65% RH.

A radiation protection device comprising at least one metal-containing layer, the metal portion of the metal-containing layer being at least 50% by weight, the binder structure of the metal-containing layer having a Shore 00 hardness less than or equal to 100 and/or the binder structure of the metal-containing layer having a thickness less than or equal to 1.1 g/cm.sup.3. A method for manufacturing a radiation protection device of this type, the material of the metal-containing layer being applied by adhesion to a support and/or support material and/or fabric strip by powder coating and/or calendering and/or injection moulding and/or blow moulding and/or lamination.