Radioactive waste repository when contacted by water provides borates that absorb neutrons

DWPI Title: Repository used for storing radioactive material adjacent to water, comprises container for holding radioactive material, and sub-criticality controller for protecting radioactive material from reaching criticality from contact with water, where sub-criticality controller is metallic composition
Abstract: A container holds radioactive material. A sub-criticality controller protects the radioactive material from reaching a criticality from contact with the water. The sub-criticality controller includes a metallic composition having at least one metal component and at least one borate component bonded to the at least one metal component. The metallic composition forms borates when the metallic composition contacts the water.
Use: Repository used for storing radioactive material adjacent to water.
Advantage: The repository can reduce or eliminate nuclear criticality.
Novelty: Repository comprises a container for holding the radioactive material, and a sub-criticality controller for protecting the radioactive material from reaching a criticality from contact with the water. The sub-criticality controller is a metallic composition having a metal component and a borate component bonded to the metal component. The metallic composition forms a second borate from the borate component reacting with the metal component when the metallic composition contacts the water.
Filed: 7/9/2020
Application Number: US16924711A
Tech ID: SD 13955.0
This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention.
Data from Derwent World Patents Index, provided by Clarivate
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