super(6)Li-doped silicate glass for thermal neutron shielding

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Vol. 349; no. 2-3; pp. 515 - 520
• Main Authors: Stone, C A, Blackburn, D H, Kauffman, D A, Cranmer, D C, Olmez, I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.1994
• Subjects: Doping (additives); Electromagnetic wave attenuation; Gamma rays; Heat shielding; Lithium; Neutrons; Radiation effects; Radiation shielding; Reactor cores; Silicates
• ISSN: 0168-9002

Glass formulations are described that contain high concentrations of super(6)Li and are suitable for use as thermal neutron shielding. One formulation contained 31 mol% of super(6)Li sub(2)O and 69 mol% of SiO sub(2). Studies were performed on a second formulation that contained as much as 37 mol% of super(6)Li sub(2)O and 59 mol% of SiO sub(2), with 4 mol% Al sub(2)O sub(3) added to prevent crystallization at such high super(6)Li sub(2)O concentrations. These lithium silicate glasses can be formed into a variety of shapes using conventional glass fabrication techniques. Examples include flat plates, disks, hollow cylinders, and other more complex geometries. Both in-beam and in-core experiments have been performed to study the use and durability of Li silicate glasses. In-core experiments show the glass can withstand the intense radiation fields near the core of a reactor. The neutron attenuation of the glasses used in these studies was 90%/mm. In-beam studies show that the glass is effective for reducing the gamma-ray and neutron fields near experiments.