Shielding Walls

Frontier Technology Corporation has extensive experience in neutron radiation shielding, offering custom neutron shielding walls that provide reliable protection from harmful radiation. To discuss how our neutron radiation shielding walls can help protect against neutron radiation damage in your application, please reach out to our team.

Shielding Wall Solutions from Frontier

Frontier Technology Corporation specializes in advanced neutron shielding wall systems tailored to your specific needs. Our solutions are engineered to meet the highest standards of performance, reliability, and safety.

One key to effective neutron shielding protection is our proprietary NuWEP^® product, a water-extended polyethylene material that slows fast neutrons and absorbs them. It offers many benefits for neutron shielding, including:

• High Water Content: As a result of the emulsification process, WEP resin’s final hydrogen content is almost as high as that of pure water. Unlike water, WEP resin cures into a contiguous solid shape that fills its housing completely, so it can easily be used in almost any shielding application.
• Cost-Effective: WEP resin’s high water content makes it a very affordable substance by weight compared to alternative materials.
• Harsh Environmental Resistance: WEP is completely inert. It doesn’t break down and resists damage from water exposure, weathering, and harsh chemicals. WEP is also fire-retardant (although best-suited for normal operating temperatures).
• Void-Free Curing: WEP resin sets cleanly and with minimal imperfections and no odor. It cures as a contiguous solid material with no voids, holes, or bubbles.

Custom NuWEP Neutron Radiation Shielding Solutions

Frontier is a leader in the development and deployment of Water Extended Polyethylene (WEP) shielding solutions. WEP shielding wall panels combine the neutron-attenuating properties of water with the strength and stability of polymer composites. Our custom NuWEP solutions are ideal for clients who need highly specific designs without sacrificing shielding performance. From temporary enclosures to permanent installations, WEP technology delivers superior flexibility.

Design and Construction of Neutron Shielding Walls

Shielding walls are designed and fabricated to fit exactly where they are needed in a facility to effectively block neutron radiation and mitigate harm to people, objects, and structures in the area. They are customizable and adaptable for many settings; although, the exact dimensions of the WEP inside the hollow wall shells must be specified carefully to ensure effective shielding.

A major advantage of shielding walls is that they provide continuous shielding coverage over the entire surface area of the wall or group of properly connected walls. There are no gaps or changes in shielding performance because WEP is inert and stable, it will not shrink, melt, flow, or break down over time. This makes WEP-filled, steel-shell walls a long-term solution.

It is critical that walls maintain the structural integrity required for the application after filling without bowing or other physical changes. As long as this critical limiting factor is considered, most wall designs can be successfully filled. WEP can be molded into various shapes, widths, thicknesses to meet most needs. It is also important to include points for off gassing of water vapor or other gasses as the WEP cures.

Neutron Shielding Wall Materials and Properties

Several materials can be used to accomplish these two critical steps due to their naturally high levels of hydrogen and/or boron, or by adding these elements to them. However, some are more suitable than others in different applications. Some common shielding materials include:

Water

With a naturally high hydrogen content, water is an effective shielding material; however, the potential for evaporation and leaks make it a poor choice in high-temperature or harsh settings. When used in the large volumes required for adequate shielding, water-filled shields are very heavy and cost-prohibitive to transport.

Polyester, polyethylene, and other resin composites

These types of resins are high in hydrogen. In particular, water-extended polyester (WEP) resin is a lightweight, moldable material that is used to fill hollow structures, such as walls or panels for shielding. WEP has high mechanical strength and durability, performing well at temperatures up to 500°F (260°C), and it resists degradation from weathering or chemical exposure. WEP resin is mixed and poured into hollow wall structures or container shells and then allowed to cure. It sets cleanly and with minimal voids and has no odor, curing as a contiguous solid material. It can be molded into simple and complex shapes.