Study on Performance of New Flexible Shielding Materials and First Demonstration Application in CPR Nuclear Power Plant

Abstract Excessive gamma rays will be emitted when a nuclear power plant is under the overhauling, leading to a certain number of hotspots. To meet the shielding requirements of these hotspots, a new type of flexible shielding materials with a “sandwich structure” has been developed. New flexible shielding materials consist of two parts, one is silicone rubber with excellent physical and chemical properties by adding reasonable multi-component additives as matrix, and the other is lead powder as shielding body. This kind of material with lead powder dispersed uniformly in silicone rubber was prepared through mixing process. Based on this, the article has carried on the discussion to the performance of functional layer of the new flexible shielding materials. The problem that the process stability of ultrafine powder distributed uniformly in matrix with various densities among different regions has been solved as well. Furthermore, this kind of material has been adopted in CPR nuclear power plant as the first demonstration project. The site shielding effect has been recognized by WANO (world association of nuclear operators). As a result of this research, it is possible that the scheme of radiation shield for a short or long time can be make quickly when nuclear power plant running or overhauling. Meanwhile, this study is of great significance for the popularization and application of shielding materials.